'Emergency handbrake' needed on sickness benefits, Blair think tank says
Summary
A think tank linked to former Prime Minister Tony Blair recommends that the U.S. government create an "emergency handbrake" to reduce the number of people receiving health and disability benefits. They suggest excluding people with conditions like mild depression or ADHD from benefits and instead offering support to help them work. Some charities criticized these proposals as unfair and unrealistic.Key Facts
- The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) wants to limit cash benefits for people with conditions considered "non-work limiting," such as mild depression, ADHD, anxiety, and some physical issues.
- TBI suggests creating a new category of conditions that qualify for support but not cash benefits.
- They propose requiring medical diagnoses before applying for benefits and more frequent checks for current claimants.
- The government plans to review the disability benefits system later this year under Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms.
- Around 1,000 people daily become eligible for health and disability benefits in the UK.
- The Office for Budget Responsibility predicts benefit spending to rise to £78.1 billion by 2029-30.
- Think tank leaders believe current rules create long-term benefit dependency instead of promoting recovery and work.
- Disability charity Scope called the proposals "deeply unhelpful," saying they ignore real experiences and risk harming vulnerable people.
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