Welfare Reform and Mental Health

Under a Welfare Reform Bill Introduced to Parliament in February 2011, the UK Government announced proposals for reforms to the entire structure of the benefits system. This represents the biggest overhaul to the benefits system for very many years. The government aims are to simplify the benefits system, make it less costly to administer and to improve work incentives.

Briefing on Welfare Reform

The government are also continuing with the migration of people from Incapacity Benefit (IB) to its replacement, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and have proposals to reform Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The College has concerns about the impact of these proposals on people with mental health problems and those with learning disabilities as they are often the most vulnerable members of society. We wish to see a fair benefits system that does not disadvantage people with mental health problems. Our welfare system must protect and support people particularly when they are at their most vulnerable. But it must also empower them to lead the lives they wish to lead.

Without the government carefully considering their proposals for Welfare Reform before implementation, benefit claimants with all forms of disabilities may experience uncertainty, stress, anxiety and a sense of unfairness. We are constantly seeing reports from people distressed about their reassessment for ESA. This is a matter of great concern for the College and service users because it not only impacts on their quality of life and hope for a better future, but can also lead to worsening mental health and increased contact with mental health services.

The College has kept abreast of welfare reform proposals by engaging directly with government departments and has provided expert knowledge and advice. We have also liaised with other disability charities in the Disability Benefits Consortium. 

We have also responded to other consultations

Information and Briefings on Welfare Reform

What's new

• The Work Capability Assessment: the case for better use of medical evidence. In partnership with Mind, Rethink and the Citizen's Advice Bureau, the College has produced a brief on the case for a more effective use of exisitng patient medical evidences to support a WCA.

• Personal Independence Payment: Assessment Thresholds and Consulatation response. The College respondes to this DWP consultation in a coalition with its mental health partner organisations.

• Amendments and Concessions secured during the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill

• Welfare Reform Bill receives Royal Assent to become an Act. The Act legislates for the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years.

•  Welfare Reform Bill completes its passage through the House of Lords.

The Bill completed its Report stage in the House of Lords on 31 January 2012. Details of the amendments at the Lords committee and report stage can be found here.  

• Sparticus Report

A report, Responsible Reform, on the proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance, entirely written, researched and funded by disabled people thier friends and carers was published on 9 January 2012.

• Consultation on Personal Independence Payments

On 16 January the DWP announced their consultation on the second draft of assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payment- the changes that have been made since the first draft, the proposed descriptor weighting and entitlement thresholds and the draft regulations.  

Also see the second draft of the PIP assessment criteria.  

• DWP publishes Professor Harrington's second independent review of the Work Capability Assessment.

On 24 November 2011 the second review of the WCA was published along with the Governments response.

• Guardian front page news on effects of welfare claimants being portrayed as 'workshy scroungers'.

On 6 February the Guardian ran a front page headline reporting that several disability charities had warned that the governments focus on alleged fraud and overclaiming had caused an increase in resentment and abuse directed at disabled people.

• Citizens Advice Bureau publishes report on the accuracy of Work Capability Assessment reports.

This CAB report, Right First Time, was published in January 2012.

It looks at peoples experience of the WCA process and the accuracy of WCA reports. They conclude that the level of accuracy in reports is "worryingly low"

For more information contact Masood Khan