Whately links benefit-claim rise to mental health care campaigns and ‘sickfluencers’

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately argued that efforts to improve mental health care had contributed to more claims for conditions including anxiety and ADHD, and said some people with milder conditions could be supported into work. The article also reports Conservative proposals to tighten benefit eligibility and Labour’s response that it is pursuing other reforms.

• Helen Whately said campaigns to improve mental health care had an unintended effect of increasing benefit claims for conditions such as anxiety and ADHD.· 1 source
• Whately said people with milder conditions could be supported into work, and called for the system to assess who needs help.· 1 source
• The Conservatives proposed £36 billion in benefit cuts, including tighter sickness and disability benefit rules; Labour said it was introducing employment support and planned further reforms.· 1 source