McFadden: young people with mental health issues belong in work

McFadden: work beats benefits for young people

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden says employment is part of the answer for young people with mental health conditions or neurodiversity, rather than a life on benefits.

“I think for many people, work is part of the answer.”

Neet numbers have grown significantly

Neet numbers grew from twenty-one percent in twenty fourteen. McFadden says forty-five percent of young people not in employment, education or training have mental health conditions or are neurodiverse.

Denmark's Fleksjob scheme offers a model

McFadden visited Denmark to study the Fleksjob scheme, which lets people with disabilities or health conditions work reduced hours with adjustments instead of taking sick leave. Employers pay wages topped up by local government subsidies.

Danish workers report mental health gains

McFadden met people in Denmark helped by the Fleksjob scheme. Every person he met said the scheme gave them money to earn and made them feel better mentally by coming to work.

“they felt better mentally by coming to work”

Government acting now on multiple fronts

McFadden said the government has changed universal credit rules, acted on fraud and error, and changed Motability scheme rules.

Major welfare overhaul planned for twenty twenty-seven

McFadden said the government will respond to the Milburn and Timms reviews and expects to legislate next year.

Welfare bill forecast to rise sharply

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts the welfare bill will rise to four hundred thirty-one billion pounds by the twenty thirty-one thirty-two financial year, largely driven by health-related and pensioner benefits.