The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing pressure to implement a crackdown on benefit payments for certain conditions, following a report from the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). The institute has called for an "emergency handbrake" on the welfare system, arguing that people diagnosed with conditions such as mild depression or ADHD should not be eligible for cash benefits.
Proposed Changes to Benefit Eligibility
The TBI suggests that these conditions should be classified as "non-work limiting," with individuals offered support services rather than financial assistance. Labour Party ministers have stated they will "consider the report." Dr Charlotte Refsu, a former GP and director of health policy at the institute, emphasized the need for clarity: "The system is drawing too many people into long-term dependency for conditions that are often treatable and compatible with work, and not doing enough to support recovery."
Full List of Conditions at Risk
The report identifies seven conditions that should be presumed non-work limiting unless proven otherwise:
- Mild to moderate depression
- Mild to moderate anxiety disorders
- Stress related disorders and adjustment disorders
- ADHD
- Related neurodevelopmental conditions where evidence supports work compatibility
- Non-specific low back pain
- Common musculoskeletal conditions
Implementation via Secondary Legislation
The report argues that these changes could be made using secondary legislation alone. It cites the Welfare Reform Act 2012, which grants the secretary of state the power to introduce presumptions of work capability under section 37(6). The Universal Credit Regulations already include such presumptions; for example, regulation 39(6) creates an irrebuttable presumption that someone has limited capability for work when receiving treatment for cancer.
The TBI warns that the current system encourages long-term dependency and fails to provide timely treatment or a route back to work. The institute's proposal aims to ensure that people get the support they need to recover and return to employment, rather than remaining on benefits indefinitely.
