The Department for Work and Pensions has published the Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, which sets out the British government’s proposals for changes to our benefits system.

Key changes include:

• The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) will be scrapped. Instead, extra financial support for health conditions in Universal Credit will be assessed via the PIP assessment and be based on the impact of disability on daily living, not on capacity to work.
• There will be changes to PIP to focus it more on those with higher needs. A new additional eligibility requirement will be introduced so that a minimum of four points must be scored on one PIP daily living activity to receive the daily living benefits.
• The government will guarantee personalised employment, health and skills support for anyone on out of work benefits with a work-limiting health condition or disability who wants it with additional funding of £1 billion a year by 2029/30.

Kathy Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Mental Health Providers, said:

“The benefit reforms proposed by the government will make it harder for people living with long-term disabilities and mental health challenges. Personal Independent Payment (PIP) benefits are essential for supporting people living with a mental illness to live independent lives.

Whilst the investment in employment services for anyone with a health condition or disability is beneficial for those who can work, our concern is that cutting benefits will push many people who cannot work and do not meet new tightened criteria into poverty. We know that poverty can worsen people’s mental and physical health which can result in unemployment, adding a further strain on mental health services, charities, and the NHS.

We urge the government to reconsider these plans. As a nation, we need a benefits system that supports people who can work into secure, supportive workplaces, and that helps people who are unable to do so.

Mental illness, disabilities, and life-limiting conditions are not a choice, but the government can choose to advocate for and support people impacted by them.”