RETHINK: Mentally ill could be left penniless, following welfare reform white paper

RETHINK: Mentally ill could be left penniless, following welfare reform white paper

RETHINK: Mentally ill could be left penniless, following welfare reform white paper

Paul Jenkins, chief executive of leading mental health charity Rethink, comments:

“Iain Duncan Smith has insisted that no one will lose out from his reforms, but we’re not as confident as we don’t think the system effectively recognises mental illness. The proposed conditions attached to job seekers allowance will add to the worries of those who already fear they will be wrongly assessed as fit to work under the new benefits test.

“It is now even more essential that benefits assessments really reflect people’s ability to work in the long-term. Mental illness affects people differently from day to day, and if someone is wrongly found to be fit for work, and put on Job Seekers Allowance, they could now be forced to do inappropriate work or lose their benefits. Job Centre Plus staff tell us that they don’t have mental illness expertise, yet they will decide who to send on these work programmes.

“We are pleased that the new Universal Credit will change the way benefits are reduced once claimants are working. The £7,000 earnings allowance for disabled people is a marked improvement on the current system and will make the transition into work easier, as well as avoiding the perverse situation where people find themselves worse off when they begin employment.

“However, Rethink is disappointed by the White Paper’s failure to propose any improvements to carers’ allowance, despite its acknowledgement that the benefit is entirely unfit for purpose. Millions of carers need to see a government commitment to better support.”

Case studies

Marion, who has severe mental illness, says: “I am able to work a 28 hour week thanks to my employer’s exceptional flexibility, understanding and patience. According to the work capability assessment, my main incapacitating symptom (devastating mood plunges that knock out hours each day) score just one point. A minimum of 15 points are needed for someone to qualify for ESA. I know people with debilitating mental illness who are terrified of being found ‘fit for work’ and being told they can claim ESA for one year only, or placed on jobseekers allowance. The idea of them being forced into unpaid manual labour for 30 hours a week doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Trevor, who is also affected by mental illness, says: “My life fell apart 22 years ago when I was told by a disability employment adviser that I would never work again. He told me to go home, dig my garden and ride my bike as I wasn’t fit for work. Now I am getting letters demanding that I’m assessed to see if I’m capable of working. The letters, meetings with my psychologist and visits to the job centre have already taken a toll on my mental health and on my relationship with the mental health team. I am very anxious about being made to come off incapacity benefit, especially as my disability living allowance is also up for renewal and I know cuts are being made there too. I was made homeless in 2006 and am terrified this could happen again.”

For more information call 020 7840 3146

Amy Edmunds
Senior Media Officer
Rethink
Tel: 020 7840 3146

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Registered in England Number 1227970. Registered charity no. 271028. Registered Office 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP. Rethink is the operating name of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, a company limited by guarantee.