Related Pages

Benefits and welfare:

• Policy and issues | in Our campaigns
• Fit for work pilots on the right track | in News Story
  Mind welcomes the Government’s announcement today to pilot new proposals to provide more support for employees during sickness absence.
• Queen's Speech: Welfare reforms 'must support people with mental health problems', say four leading organisations | in News Story
  Four leading mental health organisations have today called on the Government to ensure that any welfare reform measures in the Queen's Speech give the best possible support for people with mental health problems.
• Mind comments on Government 'fit note' plan | in News Story
  Today the Government announced that it will implement Dame Carol Black's 'Fit for Work' proposals and replace sickness absence 'sick notes' with 'fit notes'.
• Employers must work on mental health | in News Story
  As the first of the Government's measures to get people back to work are introduced, Mind reveals shocking new evidence that employers are not willing to take on people who have experience of mental distress.
• Mind comments on welfare reform Green Paper | in News Story
• Welfare Reform Bill 2009: Campaigns Briefing | in Campaign report
  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.
• The future of care and benefits | in Blog Post
  Disability Living Allowance must continue for people with mental health problems.
• Protect benefits for disabled people | in Blog Post
  Mind, in partnership with other charities, has launched a petition to stress to the Government the importance of DLA and AA.
• Mind comments on the new incapacity benefit test | in News Story
  Incapacity benefit gives people the opportunity to access counselling services, participate in voluntary work and be helped to successfully return to work at an appropriate pace.
• Welfare reform requires more carrots than sticks | in News Story
  Around 40 per cent of Incapacity Benefit claimants have mental health problems.
• Social exclusion: no quick fixes, warns Mind | in News Story
  Mind today welcomed the Government's action plan on social exclusion, but warned that there were many challenges ahead in its implementation.
• Mind: Incapacity Benefit reform must consider mental health | in News Story
• Mind warns: Benefits shake-up will fail if employers' discrimination continues | in News Story
• Mind responds as Work and Pensions Committee identifies flaws in proposed Incapacity Benefit reforms | in News Story
  Mental health charity Mind has reacted positively to the report published today of the Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry into Incapacity Benefit.
• Mind comments on social exclusion minister announcement | in News Story
  To tackle social exclusion, minister must get to grips with mental ill health.
• Mind disappointed as Incapacity Benefit reform threatens welfare of vulnerable claimants | in News Story
  Incapacity Benefit reforms may force people with mental health problems back to work too soon, without providing for the support they need both in and out of the workplace.
• Charity expresses concern over manipulated image of 'sicknote Britain' | in News Story
  Mind has called for clarification over how people will be allocated to the new benefits to replace Incapacity Benefit.
• Christmas for £15.90: Mind reveals staggering levels of hardship for over 22,000 mental health inpatients | in News Story
  Inpatients on downrated benefits can't even afford the basics, let alone Christmas presents
• Thousands sign Disability Living Allowance petition | in Blog Post
  Over 12,000 people have now signed the petition calling on the Government to protect Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
• The Conservatives Get Moving | in Blog Post
  The Conservatives check their Mind pedometers at a conference that had work and worklessness high on the agenda.
• Vicious attack on people experiencing mental health problems | in Blog Post
  A Daily Express article disputes whether claims for welfare benefits by people with a mental health problem are legitimate.
• Disability Living Allowance will not be scrapped | in News Story
  Health Secretary Andy Burnham has confirmed that the Government will not make any changes to the DLA.
• Beatrice's story | in Case Study
  My friend has bipolar disorder, PTSD, social anxiety and agoraphobia had her benefits withdrawn earlier this year. When she heard about the withdrawal of benefit she was devastated and she became more ill.
• New plans put employment in reach of millions with mental health problems | in News Story
  A new report is launched employment support.
• Mind conferences 2009 presentations | in Training and Consultancy
• Mind in action | in Blog Post
  Thousands of people across England and Wales campaigned with Mind over the past year to improve life for everyone with experience of mental distress. Find out what we all achieved.
• Brian's story | in Case Study
  I had to attend a medical interview to see if i was fit to work. There was no consultation of my medical notes. After the interview I felt worthless, stressed, humiliated, tearful, but luckily had my wife as support.
• New benefit test will fail to spot illness and disability | in News Story
  Tens of thousands of people with mental health problems could be assessed as fit for work, under new revisions to sickness benefit test.
• Welfare? What welfare? | in Blog Post
  Politicians and the press are agreed: get tough on benefit scroungers.
• What does the coalition mean for mental health? | in Blog Post
  Both Cameron and Clegg have signed up to our anti-stigma and discrimination campaign, but have had little to say about health policy or the NHS.
• Welfare system under fire | in Blog Post
  As the coalition Government begins to lay out its plans to overhaul welfare, the part of the system that really needs to change is the subject of ever-growing criticism.
• Mind comments on Government plans for welfare reform | in News Story
  Mind CEO responds to new welfare plans unveiled today.
• The cost to mental health | in Blog Post
  Clearly government spending is no longer sustainable, but this week's budget could cost the mental health of this country dearly.
• Welfare reform: what we're doing | in Blog Post
  Reform of the benefits system is a hot political topic, and is of huge concern to those affected. Here's how Mind are approaching the issue...
• Benefits campaign stepping up | in News Story
  Find out how to get involved to influence the review of the Work Capability Assessment.
• Welfare reform: update and thank you | in Blog Post
  Mind's response to the review of the Work Capability Assessment was made possible through the contributions of our supporters. Find out what happens next.
• Benefits, employment and the future of the NHS at the Labour Party Conference | in Blog Post
  Our Chief Executive reports back from the Labour Party Conference in Manchester
• Benefit pilots will lay bare benefit test failings | in News Story
  Today 1700 people in Burnley and Aberdeen who currently claim Incapacity Benefit will be called to undergo a new test to see if they are fit for work.
• We've only just begun | in Blog Post
  Mind's Chief Executive looks back on the Party Conferences, and ahead to the Comprehensive Spending Review.
• Comprehensive Spending Review | in Blog Post
  Leave your thoughts about the Spending Review here, and we'll be checking them and responding throughout the day.
• What does the Spending Review mean? | in Blog Post
  As the dust settles, we are starting to get a clearer picture of the what the Comprehensive Spending Review will mean for people with experience of mental distress.
• More evidence for the review of Work Capability Assessment | in Blog Post
  Mind accompanied two supporters to speak with Professor Harrington about the Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment. Read what they had to say about their conversation.
• Where you can find help | in Benefits and welfare reform
  We know that the changes to benefits, and the process of applying, is a cause of significant distress to many people. This page includes information and where to find help.
• Review day for the Work Capability Assessment | in Blog Post
  Critical recommendations for reforming the Work Capability Assessment were made today. Read on to find out more, and learn how you can get involved in the campaign.
• A day on the Mind infoline | in Blog Post
  Our help line workers speak to hundreds of people each week. What do people want to talk about?
• Cutting through rhetoric: welfare reforms in context | in Campaign report
  The mental health implications of welfare reforms need to be fully examined before radical changes are made.
• Work Capability Assessment still not up to the job | in News Story
  Mind says that new regulations will not improve the system and could make the process worse for people who experience mental distress.
• Influencing DLA reform | in Blog Post
  Today, Mind submitted a joint response to the Government’s consultation on reforming Disability Living Allowance. Here we discuss the proposals and our current work.
• Welfare reform - a snapshot of impact | in Blog Post
  We want to see more fair and balanced media reporting on welfare reform and make sure that the voice of people with mental health problems is put across loud and clear.
• Giving people a voice | in Blog Post
  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.
• Welfare reform anxiety making people ill | in News Story
  The national rollout of benefits reassessment is causing widespread distress amongst Incapacity Benefit claimants with mental health problems.
• How would you shape the future of employment support programmes? | in Blog Post
  Liz Sayce, CEO of disability charity RADAR, blogs on changes to employment support programmes. What's your experience of employment support? Join the conversation and post a comment.
• Protest against disability benefits cuts | in News Story
  We are calling on our supporters to join us on Wednesday 11 May at The Hardest Hit march. Mind will be joining over 40 disability charities and organisations to campaign against cuts to disability services.
• Putting your mental health first at the Hardest Hit march | in Blog Post
  Make sure you're safe at the protest. Anna posts some tips to help you prepare for Wednesday's march, and runs through support available on the day.
• Hardest Hit - live blog | in Blog Post
  We'll be blogging and tweeting from the Hardest Hit march today, let us know what you want to hear about.
• The Government must listen to the Hardest Hit | in Blog Post
  Tom on why direct action is necessary to protest against the severing of benefits and services for disabled people by the Government.
• How can PIP work for mental health? | in Blog Post
  Tell us your thoughts, as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is lined up to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in the Government's welfare reforms.
• Work Capability Assessment update | in Blog Post
  The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is probably the single issue that Mind has received the most contact about over the last couple of years. Tom Pollard talks about how welfare and benefits has become one of Mind's key campaigning priorities.
• My journey into work | in Blog Post
  This is the first in a series of guest blogs by Alison who is about to start working after 13 years on incapacity benefits
• Warning: questionnaires may damage your health | in Blog Post
  Lee describes his experience of being re-assessed for the new Employment and Support Allowance.
• Charities call for disability test overhaul | in News Story
  Mind, The National Autistic Society and Mencap are supporting a motion at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference tomorrow calling for changes to the Work Capability Assessment.
• Mind fights back against benefits stigma | in News Story
  Mind has created its own newspaper, The Daily Stigma, to rebalance the public debate around benefits, welfare and mental health.
• Mental health defenders - because nobody wins when mental health loses | in Campaign report
  People with mental health problems have told us they feel under attack from the changes in public policy and services. This booklet summarises the effects of health and social care, welfare reform, legal aid, employment and equality laws.
• Listening Conversations 2011 | in Events
• My journey into work - part 2 | in Blog Post
  Alison has started working again after 13 years on incapacity benefits. In this blog Alison struggles with self value, in work benefits and making mistakes.
• Mind responds to new PIP assessment | in News Story
  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a second draft of the new assessment for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 2013.
• Mind backs disabled campaigners' DLA report | in News Story
  Mind has backed a report by disabled campaigners, which exposes the shortcomings of the Government’s reforms to Disability Living Allowance.
• Tweet to defeat. New PIP will fail people with mental health problems | in Blog Post
  We urgently need your help to overturn some very damaging parts of the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill.
• Help us fight for fairer benefits | in News Story
  Over a third of people on the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) have mental health problems. The majority are keen to get back into work but need time to recover.
• Struggling on the ESA | in Blog Post
  Kirsty has always worked, but when she was forced to leave her stressful job owing to mental health problems, she was shocked to find herself slipping below the poverty line.
• Housing and mental health - what are my options? | in Blog Post
  We recently published our updated guide to housing and mental health. Chris from our Information team blogs about the importance of stable, affordable and secure housing for good mental health.
• Welfare Reform Bill update | in News Story
  We are bitterly disappointed that MPs yesterday overturned the Lords' amendments. But we want to thank all of our supporters who tweeted and emailed their MPs - we will continue to fight for fairer welfare and benefits.
• Putting on a brave face | in Blog Post
  Despite achieving success in her job and having the support of an understanding manager, Natalie still finds the need to put on a brave face at work.
• Why the WCA isn't working | in Blog Post
  Following his resignation from the Government's review panel for the Work Capability Assessment, our Chief Executive Paul Farmer blogs about the damage the process is doing to the lives of people with mental health problems.
• Slashing red tape may put rights of people with mental health problems at risk | in News Story
  We mustn't lose the employment rights of people with mental health problems.
• Welfare: where to from here? | in Blog Post
  Tom from our Policy team looks back over a tough year for people campaigning for a fairer welfare system and sets out a 10-point plan for moving forward.
• A landmark day for mental health in Parliament | in News Story
  Yesterday, MPs pledged to put mental health at the top of the political agenda. Four MPs spoke out about their mental health problems in Parliament for the first time.
• The WCA - working hard for reform | in Blog Post
  Tom from our policy and campaigns team blogs on the need for reform of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
• How I almost lost my boyfriend to the WCA | in Blog Post
  Lauren S blogs ahead of tonight's BBC Panorama documentary, which features her boyfriend Mark and his struggle with depression and the Work Capability Assessment.
• Uncomfortable truths | in Blog Post
  Our CEO, Paul Farmer, blogs today about the urgent changes which need to take place in the welfare system, following last night's welfare double bill by Dispatches and Panorama.
• Tipping Point | in Campaign report
  A Hardest Hit coalition report that reveals how welfare cuts are affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the country.
• Why the Mind Infoline is needed more than ever this Christmas | in Blog Post
  Charlotte, one of our Mind infoline advisors, knows how Christmas may not always be a time to celebrate.
• Benefits FAQ | in Information and Advice article
  Brief answers to some of the most common questions that our Infoline receives about benefits.
• Fighting back from the grassroots | in Blog Post
  Tom from our Policy and Campaigns team talks about our recent work to help people campaign in their area.
• #esaSOS - help fight changes to the ESA | in Blog Post
  Sue Marsh blogs: "Many vulnerable people’s needs will suddenly be able to be overlooked or ignored, meaning they could end up losing the support they desperately need to manage their conditions."