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Policy briefings on benefits

Every year, we hear from thousands of people about their experiences of benefits. Our policy briefings are based on what they tell us. Read the briefings, or get in touch with our policy team for more.

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Our proposals for reforming the benefits system

People, not tick boxes (2020)

This report outlines the 5 changes needed to reform the benefits system. Giving people choice, and making fairer decisions, are just  2 changes we need to see.

>Read the report 

Safeguarding in the benefits system (2020)

Informed by people's experiences, this briefing outlines Mind's concerns about safeguarding in the benefits system. 

>Read the briefing

Response to the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper (2017)

Our proposals for how the welfare system must better support people with mental health problems.

>Read our proposals

Briefings about sanctions

Mind's evidence to the benefit sanctions inquiry (2018)

Evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into benefit sanctions.

>Read the evidence

Benefit sanctions and mental health (2016)

Evidence for the Public Accounts Committee's inquiry into benefit sanctions for people receiving ESA.

>Read the evidence

Sanctions and ESA (2014)

Our evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into benefit sanctions while receiving Employment Support Allowance.

>Read the evidence

Briefings about Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

Employment and Support Allowance trials (2017)

Summary of the results of 3 Department for Work and Pensions trials and what they mean for people with mental health problems.

>Read the results 

Cuts to Employment and Support Allowance (2015)

We contributed to a review of the government's cuts to the ESA Work-Related Activity Group, led by Peers in the House of Lords.

>Read our contribution

Sanctions and back to work support (2014)

We supported Catherine Hale's research into the experiences of people in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group.

>Read the research

Briefings about Universal Credit (UC)

Universal Credit and mental health (2019)

Briefing setting out Mind's priorities for the reform of Universal Credit, informed by people's lived experiences of the system.

>Read our priorities

Universal Credit and managed migration (2018)

Briefing on government proposals for moving people over from ESA onto Universal Credit.

>Read the briefing

Mental health and sanctions in Universal Credit (2017)

Briefing on changes to rules on searching for work and sanctions.

>Read the briefing

Universal Credit and mental health (2017)

Evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry on the roll-out of Universal Credit, based on insights from our local Mind network.

>Read the evidence

Universal Credit (2016)

Evidence for the Public Accounts Committee's inquiry into Universal Credit, and our concerns about the impact on people with mental health problems.

>Read the evidence

Benefit sanctions and people in employment (2016)

Evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into in-work progression and Universal Credit.

>Read the evidence

Briefings about Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP mobility review (2020)

Briefing on the review of PIP cases for people who experience barriers to making journeys as a result of psychological distress.

>Read the briefing

Changes to PIP mobility criteria (2017)

Briefing for MPs and Peers about the government's changes to the PIP mobility criteria.

>Read the briefing

PIP and mental health (2017)

Evidence, based on a survey of 800 people with mental health problems, for the Work and Pensions Committee's PIP inquiry.

>Read the evidence 

PIP and mental health (2015)

Response to an independent review of PIP.

>Read the response

Briefings on looking for work and returning to work

Mental health and requirements to look for work (2018)

A briefing we wrote in response to new guidance on work preparation requirements for people receiving ESA and Universal Credit.

>Read our response

Mind's response to Improving Lives: The future of work, health and disability (2017)

Our response to government announcements on helping disabled people into work.

>Read our response

Supporting people with mental health problems into sustainable work (2016)

Findings from employment support discussions with people with mental health problems.

>Read what we heard

Disability Employment Gap (2016)

Evidence to a Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into the employment gap.

>Read the evidence

Welfare to work and mental health (2015)

Joint evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into welfare-to-work.

>Read the evidence

Access to work and mental health (2014)

Response to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into Access to Work.

>Read our response

Reforms to Jobcentre Plus (2016)

Joint evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee's inquiry into the future of Jobcentre Plus.

>Read the evidence

We've got work to do (2014)

Sets out the case for change when it comes to supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace.

>Read the report

Briefings on benefits assessments

Mental health and benefits reassessments (2017)

Briefing on ending unnecessary PIP and ESA assessments for people with mental health problems.

>Read the briefing

The Work Capability Assessment (2014)

Joint response to the review of the Work Capability Assessment, where we raise fundamental concerns with the assessment and wider ESA system.

>Read the joint response

Briefings on benefits and coronavirus

Covid-19 and disability benefits (2020)

Briefing in response to covid-19 and its impact on disability benefits.

>Read the briefing

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