According to the British government, demands for access to benefits have reached an “unsustainable level”.
People who suffer from depression or anxiety can lose access to disability benefits in the UK. The measures are part of the government's package of social reforms, which Work and Pensions Minister Mel Stride is expected to announce shortly in a plan to review how disability benefits now work.
The minister says he wants a “mature and sensible conversation” about the future of these benefits, which will help people with certain conditions cope with the rising cost of living. In statements reproduced by Sky News, Mel Stride questioned the parliamentary inquiry: “Is it fit for purpose in the world we live in today, where mental health issues are sadly more problematic than they were a decade ago?
The person in charge continued, saying that the number of beneficiaries is growing at a steady pace and that all the evidence points to the positive effects of working on the mental health of each person. “The ground has changed, and that's why I want to do this 'consultation' to think carefully about how to move forward.” In an interview with The Times, the minister suggested that people with “lesser mental pathology” would no longer receive financial support under the new reform, and that the system should not pay people to deal with “common life difficulties”. Mel Stride believes many voters share this view.
The proposals on Monday followed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's speech earlier this month announcing major changes to the social security system, saying “people with mental health problems should be expected to be less engaged in the world of work”. “Misused”. It also said it was a “moral objective” to reduce reliance on benefits and reduce welfare costs for taxpayers. According to Mel Street, if no changes are made to disability benefits, the total cost will rise to around £28 billion (approximately €32 billion) by 2029, double the pre-Covid figure.
According to the government, the aim is to intensify other treatments such as “talk therapy” and integrate job-seeking programs. Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, quoted by the Financial Times, responded to the government's initiative by saying, “These people need personalized support, not to be threatened with losing what little money they have to live on.” Quoted by The Guardian, James Taylor, director of strategy at the company Scope, called for an “end to the attack” on people with various pathologies and to address “real, relevant issues”. He adds, “Life is very expensive for the disabled and that includes people with mental illness. Threatening to withdraw the meager amount of concessions is not going to solve the country's problems.”
PIP was introduced in the UK in 2013 to cover additional costs associated with a pathology or illness for working age people. The amount received depends on the level of difficulty each person has in performing daily tasks and their level of independence. The maximum weekly amount is £184.30 (around €215). According to figures published on the government website, more than three million people receive this support, which can be used to cover special meals, transport for the disabled or insurance.
The number of requests for access to PIP in England and Wales rose from 2,200 per month in 2019 to 5,300 last year, a situation the government says is “unsustainable”.
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