MPs Debate Improving DWP Benefits Access for Mental Health Sufferers
MPs have held discussions on making Department for Work and Pensions benefits more accessible for individuals, particularly those with mental health problems, during a recent Treasury Committee meeting. The talks focused on the Government's Financial Inclusion Strategy, a policy designed to enhance financial engagement and awareness of available support.
Expert Highlights £24 Billion in Unclaimed Benefits
Helen Undy, chief executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, addressed the Committee, pointing out a significant gap in the strategy. "The bit that could have gone in this strategy that is missing is around how you address the £24 billion a year of unclaimed benefits—that figure is from Policy in Practice," she stated.
Undy emphasised the need for improved access to income maximisation support for financially excluded people living on low incomes. "We should be talking about how we increase access to income maximisation support for people who are financially excluded and who are living on low incomes. I would like to have seen that in the section of the strategy that talks about debt advice," she added.
Call for Personalised Support for Complex Needs
Undy urged for more targeted assistance, especially for those with mental health issues. "Our research suggests that, particularly for people with more complex needs, like mental health problems, having access to an individual—face to face, ideally, or over the telephone—who can give them income maximisation support can be transformational," she explained.
She noted this as a key omission in the current strategy but expressed optimism for future improvements. "That is a key thing that I think is missing in the strategy, but that we could still go further on. I would like to see more on that," Undy concluded.
Background on the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
Helen Undy leads the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, a research charity established by Martin Lewis in 2016 to better understand and address the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. Since its inception, the charity has become a prominent voice on issues including:
- Debt and impulsive spending
- Mental health services
- Consumer protection
- The potential of big data and open banking for vulnerable customers
Undy also serves on several advisory groups, including the board of the Money and Pensions Service, the Government’s Financial Inclusion Policy Forum, the UK Finance Consumer Advisory Group, and the Advisory Board for suicide prevention charity Jonathan’s Voice.
The Treasury Committee meeting highlights ongoing efforts to refine benefit systems, with a focus on ensuring that vulnerable individuals, especially those grappling with mental health challenges, can more easily access the financial support they need.
