Tony Blair Institute proposals do not understand mental health or benefits system, says Mind
The Tony Blair Institute has today called for cash benefits for people with anxiety, depression and ADHD to be stopped as they are “not work-limiting”. It suggests that any money should be diverted towards treatment instead.
Reacting to the proposals, Tom Pollard, Head of Policy at Mind, said: “This proposal shows a complete misunderstanding of both mental health and the benefits system. The only thing it would achieve would be the undermining years of progress towards greater awareness and knowledge around mental health.
“A blanket rule to declare certain conditions 'non work-limiting' fails to recognise the impact living with conditions like depression or anxiety can have on somebody’s life. People do not get additional benefits because of a diagnosis. Decisions are based on a functional assessment of how health conditions or impairments impact people’s ability to work and live independently. In most cases, people are impacted by multiple health conditions or disabilities.
“If we want to support more people with mental health problems into work then we need to focus on tackling the real barriers to employment - a lack of quality mental health support, stigma in the workplace and a shortage of flexible job opportunities. Trying to shortcut the problem with crude cuts to benefit eligibility will do nothing to move us towards more people being able to live healthy, happy and independent lives.”
