Our response to UK disability benefits cuts proposals

This year, during the UK Government’s spring budget, the Chancellor announced a series of proposed changes to disability benefits. 

These benefits, controlled by the UK government, are designed to support disabled people with the additional costs associated with disability. The proposals mean that fewer people would qualify for support. 

These proposals have the potential to impact on people with experience of mental health problems and mental illness – both financially and in terms of stigma and discrimination. 

We’re already seeing a lot of negative and stigmatising language in media headlines, and a shift in views in attitudes towards disabled people and those with poor mental health. 

Taking action

As Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, we’re taking action to try influence the proposals and put a stop to the stigma and discrimination we anticipate. 

We’ve written a letter to the First Minister, with support from six of our partners and supporters in the mental health sector, outlining our concerns and asking the Scottish Government to think about people with experience of mental health problems when it comes to forming their own plans for welfare benefits – and the language that’s used in these conversations and debates. 

We’ll be responding to the UK Government’s green paper, or consultation, regarding the proposals to make sure that mental health and mental illness are taken into consideration. 

We’ve also set up a new page on our website with more information on the proposals and details of what you can do if you, like us, think the proposals are unfair, including responding to the green paper yourself and writing to your MP. 

Significant impact

See Me director Wendy Halliday said: “The potential impacts of the changes proposed by the UK Government are significant. We are already seeing too many people being stigmatised due to having to claim benefits due to poor mental health; this is likely to increase.

"The expectation that people will ‘return to work’ shows a lack of understanding of mental health problems and illness, disregards the fact most people want to return but are unable to, and shows limited appreciation of the support and adjustments many people will need to be able to secure and stay in work.  

“The proposals are unfair and could be discriminatory if rolled out, excluding people from support because they aren’t unwell ‘enough’, with little regard for the fact that mental health often changes over time. 

“The headlines and reports we are reading and the language being used in debates around the issue are hugely concerning, with stigmatising words and attitudes re-emerging based on negative stereotypes and myths surrounding mental health problems and illness.  

“At See Me, we’re working to make sure the voices of people with experience of mental health problems and mental illness are heard and can influence, and I would encourage anyone who feels strongly on the issue to make sure they’re getting involved too.”