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Giving people a voice
Posted Monday 28 March 2011
Today, Mind joins with many disability charities, disabled people’s organisations and disabled people to announce the calling of a major march and lobby of Parliament on Wednesday May 11 to give us the chance to express concerns about the impact of the Government's welfare reform changes and of the public spending cuts on disabled people.
This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we know how worried people with mental health problems are about what appears to be coming. The changes to Incapacity Benefit, combined with changes to DLA, and the impact of public spending cuts on services make this a time of great concern to many. This weekend, we saw hundreds of thousands of people marching in London against the cuts, and in May, we want the attention to focus on the impact of the cuts on disabled people, including people with mental health problems.
Mind has been lobbying and campaigning on these issues for many months.
The changes to welfare reform have been designed to root out "the feckless" and "the workshy", but disabled people are neither. In fact many people with mental health problems want help in finding work but face many barriers, including stigma and discrimination, and inadequate support into employment. We believe that the welfare system should support everyone – with dignity – who is unable to work or requires additional support because of a mental health problem. If people are able to return to work, there should be personalised assistance and support to do so. We remain extremely concerned that the mass assessment of people on incapacity benefits, using a test which (despite some changes to the process) lacks the sensitivity to understand conditions such as mental health problems.
I worry that the cumulative impact of the way some of these changes are taking place will impact disproportionately on disabled people — we’re already hearing from our local Minds about how they are trying to help more people with less money. Our recent blog about welfare anxieties has also had many comments from people who are already feeling the effects.
I recently heard David’s story – like many people David gets DLA for the mental health problems he experiences. He finds the process of applying extremely difficult but the money he receives is vital for the additional support he needs. Under the changes, not only will the process become more stressful due to the introduction of a face to face assessment, but David will also be less likely to successfully claim if the targeted savings in the budget result in a higher threshold of eligibility.
This march and the Hardest Hit campaign is about safeguarding the future for disabled people — in the last generation we have seen significant progress, which is now being threatened.
The Government’s mental health strategy sends a clear message to all that cuts to mental health services at this critical time should be seen as a last resort, and this should be clearly communicated to commissioners.
It's not too late to make changes. Slowing the roll out of the Incapacity Benefits reassessment is possible — it will let the changes that the Government have already agreed to, be fully implemented and tested. The Welfare Reform Bill currently going through Parliament can be amended to ensure that disabled people are fairly treated, and that any new assessment for DLA is proportionate and reasonable.
Sign up for the lobby and march today.
Paul Farmer, Mind Chief Executive
18 Comments
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Whilst it is despicable that people with disabilities have been put in this position due to the devastating impact of welfare reform - I am very glad that Mind and other charities are organising such an event and have signed up to attend.
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Can't afford the train fair, or the stress of confrontation, but like all in the regions will be on the march in spirit.
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I align myself with people with disabilities but the hidden aspect to mental health problems is always a factor.An interview that does not ask the right question will not reflect how mental illness can affect ones day to day life,.Its the old argument about broken limbs and broken mind - the minds invisibility and day to day coping skills-the physical barriers to being able to be mobile and the emotional and psychological can be just as difficult ....but how is the mind to be assessed.?This is why these tick boxed methods of assessing are wrong and grossly unfair,This is why the changes in assessing to include one own G.P. or mental health professional need to be taken into account.The government is trusting the GP with 80 billion of the public purse yet do not trust a sickness note.!!! Hypocrites
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Why did MIND not pull out of all the talks on welfare reform including the can do medical?WCA?. its not a real medical, can you use a washing machine and alarm clock. Its a farce and a witch hunt.
Its been obvious for the past 18 months at least what was going to happen and that benefit cuts, humiliation and scapegoating was on the cards.
Look at who was involved in WCA, ATOS insurance firms, Why did charities get involved? -
We know its more ideological than helpful. We know its a disgraceful insult when the secretary of state implies they they only want to help after laying out the playing field with despicable propaganda designed to demons the vulnerable. So when they ask, what do you want,? say to them, well, lets start with what you've got and take it from there mate. But we know what they want to call help - taking away your means of transport through your DLA, taking away your housing benefit cause your not worth as much as the people they say want to live in your home but can't afford to, taking away a third of your income with no alternative as to how to replace it except to look for a none existent job from an employer who does not recognise your exsistance. and how do you get to interviews (let alone a job) when they've taken away your means of transport? And what makes then think that once your forced to leave your home those other people will automatically be able to afford to live where you are now - if they couldn't before. IDEOLOGY. And it wasn't our fault that house prices are what they are. Such an easy target to blame the most vulnerable suddenly as the reason people can't afford a house. nothing to do with the lack of affordable housing then? I'd like to be there on May 11th but I fear my emotions would get the better of me. although, that might not be such a bad thing over something that your grand children or future generations might be thank you for.
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Hi Paul,
Mind is committed to working towards an assessment and a benefits system that works fairly and effectively. It is for this reason that we have been so vocal about problems with the WCA for people with mental health problems. Through the Independent Review, we have achieved substantial improvements to the WCA process and we are now proposing improvements to the content of the assessment itself.
Although the assessment may remain unsatisfactory after these reforms, we firmly believe that it is better that we try to improve the system rather than simply disengaging with the reform process. If we had not intervened to try and improve the WCA, it would be even less fair and effective than it is now.
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"The changes to welfare reform have been designed to root out 'the feckless' and 'the workshy', but disabled people are neither."
Precisely, but why is it that this message hasn't been shouted loud enough for the general public to hear? Why is it that the coalition has been allowed to successfully demonise us (without challenge) and that, as a consequence, there seems to be little public sympathy for the sick/disabled in regard to welfare "reform"?
"It's not too late to make changes..."
Clearly it is. The reassessment process has already started and for those being called in it IS too late.
Whatever minor concessions the coalition may have granted in response to lobbying, they have not been enough to cause a rethink or change of direction. The very fact that you are organising a march in protest indicates that even you recognise that the coalition is intent on implementing their proposals regardless of approaches from concerned organisations. The recent protest in London, where a quarter of a million people marched against the coalition's planned cuts produced one response from them - basically that they will not be changing their plans. They do not listen and they will not listen. Where does that leave us?
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http://www.cesi.org.uk/Resources/CESI/work-prog-supply-chain.pdf
To Tom at MIND, Well my worry is that MIND is also involved in sub contracting for the work programme as this document clearly shows.
Many people with mental illness would be alarmed about this in my view.Paul
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Like Paul, I am also worried, which is why I mentioned this in a post here
http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/4747_welfare_reform-a_snapshot_of_impact
yesterday morning after I had seen Chris Grayling interviewed on BBC News.
He certainly gave the impression (if indirectly) that he was pleased that organisations like Mind (among others) are happy to be providing services as part of this process.
Isn't it interesting that this is all put into action at the same time Parliament goes into recess? All they have to do is keep their heads down for a few days and hope that by the time they return, the fuss will have died down. The sad fact is, of course, that the fuss will have died down but we will still be dealing with it.
I see also that Clegg is now talking about "stopping the legislative clock" with regard to NHS reform and there will be a period of "consultation and listening" after which, presumably, it'll be business as usual and they will continue regardless just like they have done with the WCA.
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Paul I agree. Mind how can you march against it when you're part of it? This article doing the rounds today says charites are annoyed because they didn't get a chance to negotiate. I don't see anyone twisting any charity's arm to force them to be involved AT ALL. They could've pulled out instead of selling out.
http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/8752/charities_say_they_have_no_say_in_financial_negotiations_with_primes_on_the_work_programme -
Mind's recent new's item about how anxiety over the reassessment process is impacting on people's mental health is deeply disturbing.
http://www.mind.org.uk/news/4811_welfare_reform_anxiety_making_people_ill
What a sad state of affairs when 51% of people who completed the survey have said they have experienced suicidal thoughts due to the anxiety, 32% have had their medication increased and a massive 95% of people do not feel they will be believed at their assessment.
As I have stated before, I am concerned that the survey does not fully reflect the anxieties of people who do not feel a return to work is a likely outcome for them.
I think Mind and other disabiliy organisations should rightly be protesting.
Regarding people's concerns about the work programme - whilst I think Mind, Rethink, The Richmond Fellowship etc are the right organisations to be offering back to work support for people with mental health conditions, I strongly believe that it should be on a voluntary basis. Any regime involving conditionality and sanctions is likely to prove counter-productive, causing apprehension, mistrust and further disengagement.
Could Mind provide an overview of what their involvement in the work programme actually is. Also reassurance Mind will not be involved in sanctioning or forcing people to engage in any work related activity that will have a negative impact on their wellbeing.
Are safeguards built into the work programmes to ensure that anyone who presents as being too unwell to participate, can be rapidly reviewed and placed in the support group?
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Thank you for all of your comments.
On the WCA: We have been very vocal about the problems with the assessment and have managed to gain substantial media coverage of our concerns. Unfortunately, media interest in this issue only peaks at key moments, such as the start of the 'migration', and so this is when we are able to draw attention to the problems more prominently. However, we are constantly seeking ways to voice these concerns publicly.
On the May 11 march: We feel that we have achieved substantial concessions on the WCA which will genuinely improve the process. However, as comments on the blog point out, there is still a direction of travel in welfare reform towards tighter eligibility, more conditions and harsher sanctions. This, along with the impact of cuts on people with disabilities or illness, is why we are supporting the march.
On the Work Programme: Some local Mind associations (LMAs) are part of a consortium called Disability Works UK which is bidding for sub-contracts in the Work Programme. This means that the prime providers would use the specialist knowledge and expertise of the smaller organisations to help them support customers with specific needs and barriers. These arrangements are not yet confirmed and negotiations are ongoing.
We do not feel the involvement of LMAs in the Work Programme would in any way constrain our independence as a campaigning organisation. This is demonstrated by our ongoing criticism of the various aspects of the welfare reform agenda and our involvement in the march on May 11. Mind plays a dual role of service delivery and campaigning and we feel that both these roles strengthen the other.
We agree that sanctions are not a productive way of engaging people with mental health problems and can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health. Therefore, we are pushing for better safeguards in the Welfare Reform Bill. As a sub-contractor LMAs would not be responsible for administering sanctions. Our experience actually suggests that the involvement of LMAs in back-to-work programmes is an effective way of ensuring that people with mental health problems are not subject to sanctions.
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Tom@Mind,
Let's say Harry is placed in the work related activity group, and as a result has to attend a placement at his LMA. Doesn't matter what it involves, whether they're providing him with CV/interview training, computer class, he works in the kitchen or garden a few hours a week, whatever. Now Harry was wrongly placed in the WRAG, but he does his best to attend anyway. Unfortunately it's too much for him to cope with and he doesn't turn up for his second session. Or his third. Or fourth, or fifth. The DWP find out, and apply sanctions in the form of reducing his benefit with threats to reduce further or stop altogether unless he complies.
We all know it's going to be impossible to prevent people being placed in the WRAG when they should be in support group. Could you please explain how Mind are going to prevent people like Harry having sanctions applied to him in circumstances like this i.e. as a result of not being able to keep up with the programme he is required to attend? We know you're not responsible for personally administering sanctions, but that doesn't mean that as providers of the programme you will have no part to play. Unless you have plans ready to be able to deal with this, in which case could you please make them a little more public as this is what people are scared of happening to them. -
Tom, Thank you for your explanations. Having been a person who lobbied our parliamentary representatives back in about 2000 over the removal of benefits for those in long stay mental health wards, I can say it worked at that time (albeit a different government). We got this injustice overturned through our lobbying gaining a meeting with a government minister at the DWP who didn't even know such anomalies in the benefits system existed.
I do understand and am in agreement with those who belive listening does not seem to be on this governments agenda. nonetheless, It seems the concessions won so far have only come through lobbying and outspoken protests by those directly affected as well as their representatives. Protest needs to go alongside education in my opinion. It is often said that prejudice is a lack of education and understanding.
We have to also explain WHY we are so aggrieved. Putting the obvious aside, we have to explain an idiots guide as to the daily prejudice we face in normal daily situations and that this baggage comes along with us too. This isn't our baggage, its the rubbish, lack of recognition, denial of exsistance that wider society denies us thus far.
When I have tried to be engaged with the DWP, (as well as other establishment organisations), I have more often than not had to interpret these relationships as just another part of the denial and prejudice that we face in wider society. They have their agendas and targets to meet which in every circumstance, an approach that finds it very difficult to recognise the individual it seeks to engage.
However, I was once told that for every person who protests and marches publicly, there are about thirty more who are in agreement privately. The politians know this and know it would be expedient to take note of any public lobbying come the ballot box. We have the local elections in about a months time. A bad show at the ballot box will be interpreted as a blow to the government when they start losing councils. Answer; lets put the the health service reforms on hold and start listening? Protests do work...sometimes maybe.
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Work programme is funded by benefit cuts
Approximately 400,000 people will lose their ESA if put in the WRAG of ESA after one year because it then becomes a means tested benefit.
. Sick people will pay for employment providers to find non existent paid work under the threat of sanctions and workfare.
Paul
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Not sure, considering you recently got rid of the user voice within your own organisation, that Mind is in the best position to speak out on this issue?
It's all a bit too little too late, you and the other MH charities have been more than aware that MH was going to be hit hard by cuts and all you can do is put your faith in a sofly softly nicey nicey TTC campaign.
You should have spent THAT money on Time to Challenge (the Govt) not pithy TV ads.
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Dear Jack, thanks for sharing your concerns.
Mind is passionate about involving people with experience of mental distress in our work – it’s at the heart of everything we do. We have not got rid of the user voice at Mind, in fact we are broadening our work to offer as many individuals as possible the opportunity to shape and drive our work. As part of this approach we have decided to bring our National Advisory Panel to a close, to ensure that we are speaking to a range of people across England and Wales rather than relying on one group of dedicated individuals. We’re planning a series of events across England in the summer to let people know about what we’re doing and how they can get involved. We will share the details as soon as they are confirmed.
We have been very vocal about the cuts and have been campaigning hard. A lot of the work we do is behind the scenes, but rest assured we are doing everything we can to highlight the effects cuts will have on those with mental health problems. Time to Change is just one of our campaigns, and it is funded by the Big Lottery and Comic Relief specifically to raise awareness of mental health issues and to tackle stigma. If we can improve understanding and attitudes across society in general hopefully this will mean less discrimination and fairer treatment in the long term. -
Jeremiah, thanks for your post – these are the same issues that we are currently discussing among the consortia. As we have said in previous posts, we are still in the planning stage for how all the charities will come together to form the consortia and what our terms will be. However, while we haven’t got any formal plans to share at the moment, these are absolutely the sorts of things we are considering. DWUK was set up to improve people’s experience of the Work Programme, so that they have the chance of being supported by people who are experts in different health problems, and understand their barriers to work.
Local Minds, in their own right, have offered similar services before and have used their expertise and relationships with clients to identify when individuals have been allocated to the wrong type of benefit, or aren’t able to comply with their benefit regime for health reasons, and ensuring that sanctions are not applied when non-compliance is due to the client’s mental health. This is the sort of model we would like to imitate – a holistic approach, where rather than just moving people along the path to work, we can advocate for those who can’t comply because of their health, or shouldn’t be there in the first place.
We know it’s very important that DWUK gets the model right in order to make the most of the opportunity to offer support for people with health needs.
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