Benefits systems 'letting down' people with mental health conditions

A new survey has revealed that around 200,000 people claiming health and disability benefits are ready for work now if the right job or support were available.

The research published by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that nearly half (44%) of people with a mental health condition expect to be able to work in future if their health improves.

The release comes as the number of young people (aged 16 to 34) who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness and have a mental condition reaches 270,000. This number has been rising over the last decade and has increased by 60,000 or 26 per cent in the last year.

The Work Aspirations of Health and Disability Claimants survey also found that a third (32%) of those claiming health and disability benefits believe they can work now or in future and 5 per cent say that they would be ready now if the right job or support were available.

Responding to the figures, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has said that the report demonstrates the need to reform the current welfare system, so that it offers better, meaningful support to give disabled people and people with long-term health conditions a real opportunity to find work.

Upcoming reforms aim to create a welfare system that promotes tailored pathways into work and accommodates the complex nature of disabilities and health conditions, and as a result, improve people’s living standards.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP said: "Today’s report shows that the broken benefits system is letting down people with mental health conditions who want to work.

"People claiming Health and Disability benefits have been classed by the system as “can’t work” and shut out of jobs and have been ignored – when they’ve been crying out for support.

"That is a serious failure. It’s bad for people, bad for businesses, which miss out on considerable talent, and bad for the economy.

"For young people in particular, being out of work can have a scarring effect that lasts a lifetime.

"On Time to Talk day, it’s time to change how we support people with long-term health conditions, such as a mental health condition, so that they have a fair chance and choice to work."