Welfare Reform Bill 2009: Campaigns Briefing

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Introduction

The Welfare Reform Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in
January 2009. It is intended to realise the Government's aspiration of an 80 per cent employment rate for people of working age, through:

• more tailored support to help people get back to work;
• increased responsibility on benefit claimants to move towards work, or lose their benefits; and
• creating a simplified benefits system.

Mental health has a significant impact on welfare reform and benefits. Around half of all people claiming benefits because of ill-health have a mental health problem.

Mind supports the Government's aims to improve job opportunities for people with mental health problems, and to provide more personalised support for people to support them in moving back to work. But at present, the Bill has number of flaws which could have a serious negative impact on people with mental health problems.

Published January 2009