Projects per year
Abstract
The personal, economic and social costs of mental ill-health are increasingly acknowledged by many governments and international organisations. Simultaneously, in high income nations the reach of welfare conditionality has extended to encompass many people with mental health impairments as part of on-going welfare reforms. This is particularly the case in the UK where, especially since the introduction of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in 2008, the rights and responsibilities of disabled people have been subject to contestation and redefinition. Following a review of the emergent international evidence on mental health and welfare conditionality, this paper explores two specific issues. First, the impacts of the application of welfare conditionality on benefit claimants with mental health impairments. Second, the effectiveness of welfare conditionality in supporting people with experience of mental ill health into paid work.
In considering these questions this paper presents original analysis of data generated in qualitative longitudinal interviews with 207 UK social security benefit recipients with experience of a range of mental health issues. The evidence suggests that welfare conditionality is largely ineffective in moving people with mental health impairments into, or closer to, paid work. Indeed, in many cases it triggers negative health outcomes that make future employment less likely. It is concluded that the application of conditionality for people with mental health issues is inappropriate and should cease.
In considering these questions this paper presents original analysis of data generated in qualitative longitudinal interviews with 207 UK social security benefit recipients with experience of a range of mental health issues. The evidence suggests that welfare conditionality is largely ineffective in moving people with mental health impairments into, or closer to, paid work. Indeed, in many cases it triggers negative health outcomes that make future employment less likely. It is concluded that the application of conditionality for people with mental health issues is inappropriate and should cease.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 311-326 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Social Policy and Administration |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 19 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 9 Feb 2020 |
Bibliographical note
© 2019 The Authors. Social Policy & Administration published by John Wiley & Sons LtdKeywords
- Welfare Conditionality
- Mental health
Profiles
Projects
- 1 Finished
-
ESRC Centre: Sanctions, support & behaviour change: Understanding the role and impact of welfare conditionality
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ESRC)
1/07/13 → 31/03/19
Project: Research project (funded) › Research