New Crisis report proves DWP's punitive approach is counterproductive, says Mind
Mind response to sanctions research from Crisis
Responding to a report being published by Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, Tom Pollard, Policy and Campaigns Manager at mental health charity Mind, said:
“Time and time again we hear about the negative impact benefit sanctions have on people’s mental health and finances. This latest report from Crisis highlights how stopping someone’s benefits can also push many people into difficult situations, and even homelessness.
“Stopping, or threatening to stop, someone’s financial support is completely the wrong approach to help people with mental health problems find work – it’s actually counterproductive. Pressurising someone to engage in often inappropriate activities under the threat of losing their benefit causes a huge deal of additional anxiety, often making people more unwell and less able to work.
“Instead of punishing people for failing to do certain tasks, we want the Government to take a more positive approach. Programmes that provide more personalised support are much more effective in getting people with mental health problems back into employment. Rather than constantly treating people with suspicion, we need a system that takes into account their skills, ambitions, and the real barriers they face in getting and staying in a job."
