The UK government is proposing significant changes to the disability benefits system, particularly impacting those with depression or anxiety. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has indicated that individuals with 'mild' mental health issues among the 3.5 million targeted will be encouraged to seek therapy and return to work, as part of a broader effort to clamp down on disability benefit expenditures. This move is part of a consultation on reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system, which may include stricter eligibility criteria, replacing cash benefits with vouchers, and dividing PIP payments into six tiers. The government argues that these reforms will provide better support for those most in need and ensure the sustainability of the benefits system. However, this has sparked considerable backlash from mental health advocates and opposition politicians, who argue that it trivializes mental health issues and could exacerbate the conditions of those affected, especially with 1.9 million people currently on NHS mental health waiting lists.
Martin Lewis issues update after energy customers chased for debts 'they do not owe' https://t.co/pZ8o0Njpof
✍️ "The Government must ensure that no one’s potential is written off. These new welfare reforms are welcome," writes @MPIainDS https://t.co/hhzEXmRmO9
This thread is absolutely spot on and chimes with my own experiences a few years ago. I tried to "push through" and ended up in psychiatric hospital; if I'd felt able to have a bit of time off, with access to treatment and support earlier, things would've been very different. https://t.co/Tav4h0NpYY
Reforms to disability benefits could end up making people sicker if not properly resourced due to pressures on medics, the government has been warned ⬇️ @ChaplainChloe, @PMGallagher1 report https://t.co/v1Q3mWOHDt
DWP axed help for half a million disabled people when the LibDem/Tory Coalition ended #DLA and introduced #PIP - now the Tories want to cut help again and haven’t bothered to assess the impact even on working disabled people. https://t.co/81PgHa8BzO
Government breaks silence over future of Warm Home Discount scheme after Martin Lewis question https://t.co/YpnbqUGnCl
A new health and disability consultation was launched yesterday, which will terrify 2.6million people & their families. I asked @MelJStride if he would show compassion & invest more to tackle the backlog of 2 million waiting for mental health services https://t.co/ym0Qw9swXV
DWP breaks silence over PIP crackdown after it causes 'unimaginable terror' https://t.co/nrZ0RYdaGR
Proposals to overhaul the UK’s disability benefits and make them more targeted to people with the greatest need have been described as “cruel” and “ineffective” by doctors’ leaders @rcpsych @scope https://t.co/OJtEsUTml0
Martin Lewis issues important message to parents earning less than £80,000 https://t.co/2LTTXRQuli
Martin Lewis says parents earning under £80,000 could be £1,260 better off https://t.co/WAb2QL7Wh2
Just excellent by @IsabelHardman on why you can't force yourself to be mentally well enough to work, no matter how much you want to return https://t.co/xOIVdQ5C0o
Govt proposals to curb Personal Independence Payments are brutal & causing unimaginable worry to many living with a chronic health condition or disability. Two thirds are already in destitution. They and our public services need support, not cruel and divisive rhetoric from Govt https://t.co/J4bNfiVQbA
Martin Lewis speaks out over DWP PIP benefits crackdown and says 'if you're worried' https://t.co/YuZd8ZCGDP
Four DWP changes coming in disability benefits and PIP crackdown - from axed payments to eligibility https://t.co/Z3kMNwXOXX
DWP update on which conditions will no longer qualify for PIP in disability benefits crackdown https://t.co/GSfikTr4Gr
Paul Harris - who receives PIP benefits - on the DWP's proposals: "I just think punishing people by taking money away from them is just actually quite terrifying and will make matters a whole lot worse to be honest." https://t.co/zzhHCQozHr
My @guardian story (with (@kiranstacey): Mentally ill people being used as a 'political football' warn campaigners as government unveils proposals to cut disability benefits https://t.co/RwTOVlgBRX
Calls for urgent action on mental health strategy https://t.co/7Ljb7DCneM
Martin Lewis has broken his silence over the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) PIP eligibility and new rules. https://t.co/5BKEECUKcO
Tuesday's front page: PIP disability benefit could be cut using new system with six 'tiers' #Tomorrowspaperstoday Latest by @janemerrick23: https://t.co/p3lsDiyVTk https://t.co/TsrxPIBCHI
The main mental health organisation has asked for a “grown up” conversation with the #DWP Secretary of State after awful briefings on #PIP cuts facing people with mental health conditions https://t.co/azZt9XGWoz
Threatening mental health patients with taking away their benefits puts them at greater risk of harm and will delay their return to work, leading charities have warned ⬇️ @PMGallagher1 reports https://t.co/JetV3UuvDq
A thoughtful thread on mental health and benefits via @IsabelHardman https://t.co/M6sln10QOi
As someone with a PTSD diagnosis, I know how debilitating mental health conditions can be. The DWP Secretary says the benefits system shouldn't be paying people to deal with the “ordinary difficulties of life”. If he thinks that's not trivialising mental illness, what is it? https://t.co/9bfacj0su9
Ministers seek to overhaul disability benefits system https://t.co/GJ4VUNbbr2
Opinion I You can’t force yourself to be mentally well enough to work – I tried 🖋️ @IsabelHardman https://t.co/qJWsjzxbWU
Cruel, callous, smearing, stigmatising, dehumanising and cutting plans to axe benefits for people with anxiety or depression - as part of a wider assault on the welfare state with vouchers replacing cash - is a traditional Tory tactic to divide and rule. https://t.co/RS1ey3gMMU
'I want to move towards something that is more rigorous, more objective and potentially has more medical evidence when people are making those claims' @RishiSunak wouldn't be drawn on whether those suffering with anxiety will lose PIP payments | @Peston https://t.co/xqIUdDHFBN https://t.co/iaAT7EwRJU
PIP payments set to be divided into six tiers in bid to cut benefits bill @janemerrick23 reports https://t.co/KkoJD1f9IH
I’m determined to make our benefit system fit for the future and fair to the taxpayer, transforming lives and unlocking potential. The next chapter in our welfare reform story – the Modernising Support Green Paper. https://t.co/3ehXyy7dec https://t.co/zJpXAqDjQ6
Today the UK Government announced a consultation on the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We've been calling for a full review of PIP for some time, but this consultation is driven by cutting costs. It's unjustly targeting disabled people, including those with MS. https://t.co/TacI9CTCF1
Disability monthly payment benefits could be stripped in favour of vouchers in Sunak crackdown https://t.co/W3Y4vtWY7l
This Conservative Govt defends cuts to disability payments as delivering 'better value for the taxpayer'. They say it is part of a 'grown up conversation'. The reality is this is yet more scapegoating of people who are entitled to #PIP support. Shameful. https://t.co/uMtEOqE1mB
🔴 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions @MelJStride is making a statement on Health and Disability Reform: Update. Watch live ⬇️ https://t.co/VqTm4pEbyg
Welfare secretary Mel Stride says people with depression or anxiety could lose sickness benefits as the system should not be paying them to deal with the “ordinary difficulties of life”. Has he ever needed - or tried to access - mental health support? https://t.co/DVaXjcrq4y
Martin Lewis 'yelling from rooftops' after one million people miss out on £332 https://t.co/S33WsJssBN
Martin Lewis says 'finally' as HMRC and DWP make major change from today https://t.co/lJ0OWZyrwm
The government is continuing its reckless assault on disabled people. This consultation is not about what's right or fair. It's hard to believe that it's about anything other than cutting costs, no matter the impact. https://t.co/q1kJifIF0Z
Our disability benefit system isn’t working how it should be. That's why we're reforming it, targeting support to those who need it most and ending the one-size fits all approach. We'll always protect the vulnerable, but must make sure the system is sustainable for the future. https://t.co/wFTjIFAZBF
People suffering from depression or anxiety could lose their access to sickness benefits as part of the government's major welfare reforms, the work and pensions secretary has said. The parties (@MelJStride and @elliereeves) spoke to @WilfredFrost 👇 https://t.co/exvVcx2sU9 https://t.co/J4D6UFssiV
Martin Lewis breaks silence on DWP disabled benefits crackdown and says 'surely' https://t.co/pTHXSMn7wW
Millions of Tesco Clubcard holders can get £360 boost in their bank accounts https://t.co/h2y6Dyth2W
Tories plan to squeeze disability benefits in bid to create fiscal headroom for pre-election tax giveaways. https://t.co/HJuwEDVvTP
UK plans to squeeze disability benefits in bid to cut soaring welfare bill https://t.co/4vgCgX2hsz
A raft of major welfare reforms are to be announced today by the government, which mean people suffering with depression or anxiety could lose access to sickness benefits https://t.co/xqIUdDHFBN
The Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has said that getting back to work is “good for mental health” as he launches a consultation on reforms to the Personal Independence Payment system @eleanormia reports https://t.co/fLfQsnIH5Q
Instead of addressing the NHS backlog (which has trebled since 2010) or chronic lack of NHS mental health provision, the government is doing the one thing guaranteed to cause more anxiety, depression and ill health: cutting benefits. Shameful. https://t.co/TosoMbJttG
Our disability benefit system hasn’t been reviewed in over a decade. We want to make sure it’s fit for the future, with enhanced support for those who need it most and better value for the taxpayer. https://t.co/G47ik81rTR
Tories threaten to remove DWP sickness benefits from people with anxiety or depression https://t.co/EqQxXZnDrG
PIP recipients urged to have their say as Rishi Sunak plans overhaul including change to eligibility rules and replacing cash with vouchers https://t.co/9k8iBSYLQW
ICYMI: 'We're all struggling, just get on with it! People in India don't sit around moaning they can't work' Tories welfare reform targets depressed and anxious people, as they face losing their benefits if they don't go back to work. https://t.co/eUHSoYRw9J
People with 'mild' mental health problems will be told to get therapy and get back to work under disability benefit cash clampdown targeting 3.5million as minister says some are just struggling with the 'ups and downs of life' https://t.co/TaiUGDSRkC https://t.co/0wqlmnI5HE
Today's Times. @RishiSunak continuing his vindictive assault on people with mental illness, vowing to stop welfare payments for depression & anxiety. Yet there are 1.9 million people on NHS mental health waiting lists. So how dare they suggest this is about 'help'? https://t.co/Ino6DVmos6
People with depression or anxiety could lose sickness benefits, says UK minister https://t.co/7ESqEDUFbZ