Thousands of people off work because of mental health problems

Every month, more than 20,000 people are claiming incapacity benefit for mental health problems, according to official data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Mental health problems now account for two-thirds of the incapacity benefit claims, the DWP figures show.

While it has been known for some time that mental health problems account for the bulk of disability benefit claims, which are paid regardless of whether someone can work or not, there has not previously been any data for incapacity benefits paid through universal credit, which are paid when people are unable to work.

According to the DWP data, two million people receive universal credit health benefits (an increase of 400,000 from the previous year), with 69% of them judged unfit for any work.

Back and joint problems are also common

Of all the assessments made in the last two years, 69% involved “mental and behavioural disorders”. The second most common claim was for back and joint problems (cited in 48% of claims), while heart disease and other circulatory problems and digestive illnesses were cited in more than 20% of cases.

On average, each claimant has 2.7 health conditions, but the data does not allow us to identify which is the main driver of the illness. It may be, for example, that some people who report mental health conditions also have a physical illness such as heart disease or diabetes.

Of those claimants who were found to have limited capability for work, 90% had a mental and behavioural disorder.

Christopher Rocks, lead economist at the Health Foundation thinktank, said: “Ill health is driving the rise of people on out-of-work benefits and having a significant impact on the economy.” He called for “tailored support” rather than government crackdowns on jobseekers: “Some recent government measures are a step in the right direction but can be scaled up and go further. However, measures that restrict benefit entitlement for people with work-limiting health conditions risk being counterproductive.”

More tailored support, he said, would “require more detailed statistics on claimants’ health conditions over time, broken down by demographics at a local level. Such information would enable local areas and employment programme providers to target support effectively, taking better account of health needs.”

Mental health problems affect poorest most

Nil Güzelgün, head of policy and campaigns at the mental health charity Mind, said the data “highlights the acute need for mental health support.” She added:

“People in the poorest fifth of the population in the UK are twice as likely to be at risk of developing mental health problems. To suggest that people should be facing even lower incomes would be counterproductive and more likely to increase mental health problems.

“We know people would love to work if they had access to the mental health support they need, but that support just isn’t there. There are over 1.9 million people currently on waiting lists for NHS mental health services. The NHS recorded in January the highest referral numbers to crisis care teams since January 2019.

“The suggestion that benefits for disabled people and people experiencing long-term health conditions should be reduced – as the cost-of-living crisis continues – is alarming. People need to be offered tailored support from experts if they are to return to work, not threats of losing what little money they currently have to live on.”