Mind responds to release of Disability Action Plan

The UK government has published its long-awaited Disability Action Plan today, laying out how it will improve all aspects of the lives of disabled people, including those with mental health problems. This plan was promised in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto and comes after other recent government announcements that could undermine it, such as the Back to Work Plan.

The plan commits to actions this year and includes key milestones in the coming months to measure its progress.

Nil Guzelgun, Policy and Campaigns Manager at Mind, said:

“The Disability Action Plan is nowhere near ambitious enough and needs to take real action on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on disabled people. We are pleased that the plan focusses on the impact of the rising living costs on disabled people. Two years into a devastating cost of living crisis, many people with mental health problems are still struggling to put food on the table, wash themselves, and heat their homes. With cost-of-living payments due to run out in spring 2024, and no sign that prices will return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon, the recognition of the need to understand the cost of living for disabled people is welcomed’.

“However, despite this recognition of the financial challenges disabled people face, we’re concerned that employment as an issue is entirely missing from the plan. This is particularly worrying as the UK government is pushing for more disabled people to be back in work. It’s vital that the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people is closed and we want to see ambitious new targets in this area.”