Rishi Sunak has been told to end his "reckless assault" on disabled people as he threatens to remove sickness benefits from people suffering from anxiety or depression.
Charities warned today axing vital cash payments would make matters worse and told the Tories to focus on waiting lists for mental health support. It came as the Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride unveiled proposals for a major shake-up to the way Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - the main disability benefit - works.
A 12-week consultation will propose stopping regular cash support for a range of mental health problems. Mr Stride said a "whole plethora of things", such as talking therapies, social care packages and respite care, could be used as alternatives to benefit payments.
Over 2.6million adults now receive PIP to help with the extra cost of living with a health condition or disability. People can receive between £29 and £184 per week. The consultation will explore changes to the eligibility criteria, assessment process and types of support that can be offered.
Tory DWP chief announced the changes in a statement to the Commons on Wednesday (PA Wire/PA Images)A Government document released today said ministers would look at "moving away from a fixed cash benefit system so people can recieve more tailored support". This could include a receipt or vouchers-based system to cover costs for aids, appliances or services.
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Mr Stride said the Government would "explore" whether cash payments are the right solution for some people. He added: “We’re making the biggest welfare reforms in a generation – protecting those most in need while supporting thousands into work as we modernise our benefit system to reflect the changing health landscape.”
But James Taylor of disability equality charity Scope called for an end to the "reckless assault" on disabled people. He said: "It's hard to have any faith that this consultation is about anything other than cutting the benefits bill, no matter the impact. Many of the current issues the PM speaks about are due to our crumbling public services, poor quality jobs and increasing rates of poverty. Not because of a so-called ‘mental health culture’ that’s gone too far."
The chief executive of the charity Mind, Dr Sarah Hughes, said taking away crucial financial support will "make things worse". She said: “This country is facing complex problems. Millions of people are struggling because of years of underinvestment in mental health services, rising poverty and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, while 1.9 million people sit on waiting lists for mental health support.
"We will not allow government to paint people with mental health problems who are not well enough to work as somehow taking the easy route."
Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of The British Psychological Society, said: “The threat of removal of benefits payments has been shown time and again to be counterproductive, and instead causes increased stress and anxiety for those most in need. If the government is serious about supporting people living with mental health difficulties, they need to focus on properly funding mental health services so people can get the support they need without long delays."
Iain Porter of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation added: "This is clearly an opportunity for the government to sound tough, but it is on the backs of people who are already facing huge challenges financially as well as with their health.
"The reality is that most people in receipt of PIP are unable to work, with more than a third of PIP recipients in workless households unable to keep their home warm and over 40% experienced food insecurity, worse levels than other workless households, in a benefits system this government designed."
Keir Starmer also called Government proposals to overhaul disability benefits "slightly farcical". The Labour leader said: "The principle that those that can work should work is the right principle and that's why I have long supported reform. I'm very keen on the schemes that support people back into work."
Mr Starmer said many people want to work and need support to do so, but that waiting lists to get that support are keeping people out of the workplace. He added: "The scheme they now say isn't working is their scheme. They designed it and put it in place and now 14 years later they say it's not working so there's an element of farce to it but obviously we'll look at the details when they come."
'It does feel like an attack on people with disabilities'
Paul Harris began experiencing panic attacks and problems at work due to work-related stress at the end of 2015. "I basically was locking myself in the toilets and having these hour long panic attacks," the 42-year-old told The Mirror. "It was weird because it was only at work I was struggling - when I was at home I could function fine.
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"But then around January 2016 I just got up one morning to go to work but I couldn't actually climb into the bath to have a shower. I couldn't physically lift my legs. All I could do was go back to bed and that was the last day I was able to go to work."
Paul who lives in County Durham was later diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and depression and was put on medication. He receives Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to help with extra living costs and attempts to use his lived experience to help other people struggling.
He is not clear whether the Tories' floated proposals will impact him but says cutting his payments would make his mental health worse. Paul said the Government are "looking in the wrong place", adding: "It's like they are clutching at straws at things. I can understand something that needs doing. A lot of people with mental health disabilities do want to work, we do want to contribute.
"But I think to force people into that sort of situation is very dangerous. They don't seem to be understanding that the work place can be quite a big source of mental health issues. Rishi Sunak especially keeps going on about 'good work is good for your mental health'... well, what about if you're not in good work?".
Paul said people with mental health illnesses "aren't really being listened to at all". He added: "I think there's a lot of stigma we're battling anyway and I just feel what they are coming out with... it's almost like they are trying to fuel that stigma. I don't know whether they are trying to get votes, or what they are trying to do, but it does feel like an attack on people with disabilities who are trying."
Instead he urged the Government to focus on cutting "ridiculous" waiting lists for mental health support and treatments to support those in need. He added: "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."
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