Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, has today (18 March 2025) .
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the 免费黑料网, said:
“Reforms to the welfare system must be focused on supporting people to join and remain in the job market without penalising those who may never be able to work.
“Many people who have a mental illness can work if they are able to access the right psychiatric care and treatment alongside employment support. Positive working environments can also benefit their mental health by providing them with structure, financial independence and opportunities for social interaction.
“It is concerning that there has been a significant growth in the number of people becoming disabled as a result of their mental illness. A proportion of these people have conditions such as anxiety and depression, that if treated earlier and assertively by skilled clinicians, may not have resulted in them becoming as disabled.
“We think this is not unrelated to the fact that mental health services are already struggling to manage rising demand due to a lack of resources and staff shortages. It is important that the need for good psychiatric care is taken into consideration as these reforms develop.
“Employment advisors in Talking Therapies for people with common mental disorders have had positive impacts.
“For those people with severe mental illness there is good evidence that they can also be supported into work. It’s long been known that interventions such as Individual Placement Support double the chances of someone with severe mental illness gaining employment, are cost effective and reduce hospital admissions.
“We are concerned that under these proposals there will be a reduction in the level of support for some with significant health issues compared to what they would have been receiving if they were on that benefit now. It is important to recognise that despite their best efforts, some people with severe mental illness are unable to work and may never be able to work. Their access to benefits, which contribute to a better quality of life and can help to lessen their risk of relapse, must not be reduced or restricted.
“Personal Independence Payments (PIP) assist those who are unable to work but also those who are working to remain in employment. PIP plays a crucial role in supporting people who, because of a disability, experience additional living costs.
“It is imperative that the UK Government uses an evidence-based approach. These reforms should not simply be one-size fits all, driven by an arbitrary amount, which may bring short-term savings, but will inevitably lead to greater long-term costs as a result of driving more people into illness.
“Not all aspects of the Green Paper are open for consultation, which is a shame as it denies us the opportunity to see if these are the best way of achieving the intended objective. However, we will engage where permitted and continue to follow the Government’s plans closely as more details emerge in the coming days and weeks.
“The 免费黑料网 want to use our expertise to work with the Government so that they can get this right for now and in the future.”
For further information, please contact:
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