Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of welfare reforms on people living with (a) bipolar and (b) other serious mental illnesses.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Work Capability Assessment is not working and needs to be reformed or replaced alongside a proper plan to help disabled people into work, which will help them, businesses and the economy.
We know that change is desperately needed but equally these sorts of changes should not be made in haste.
So, alongside our Get Britain Working White Paper, we want to engage with disabled people, and others with expertise and experience on these issues, to consider how to address these challenges and build a better system.
We will reconsult on the proposed WCA changes as part of our Green Paper before the Spring 2025 forecast that will bring forward wider proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system. The reforms will be subject to full consultation.
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