The UK’s Department of Work and Pensions has announced plans to cut benefits for the long-term sick and disabled. Mental health organisations and charities have voiced concerns that this could have a detrimental impact on the vulnerable people’s health.
This new policy would mean that those currently in receipt of benefits would have to undertake work experience for charities, public bodies and retailers on the high street. Such individuals would be placed in a work-related activity group (Wrag), including those diagnosed with cancer but with more than six months to live, accident and stroke victims and people with mental health issues.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists commented that it had “fears that managers in jobcentres and private companies who specialise in getting people back to work have inadequate health expertise and will push those with mental health issues into inappropriate placements.”
Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at mental health charity Mind commented that “work placements can be a useful bridge for people in the work related activity group who are taking steps towards employment, but we are very worried about people being pressurised into taking unpaid positions before they are ready.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions stated “It is clear that some groups wish to label people with a variety of illnesses and conditions as unable to work. This is not only wrong, it is unfair to those individuals who despite their illness want to keep working.”