# McFadden: young people with mental health issues belong in work

> The Work and Pensions Secretary says employment beats benefits for Neets with mental health conditions, citing Denmark's Fleksjob scheme as a model.
- Title: McFadden: young people with mental health issues belong in…
- Summary: The Work and Pensions Secretary says employment beats benefits for Neets with mental health conditions, citing Denmark's Fleksjob scheme as a model.
- Keywords: pat mcfadden, neets, mental health, neurodiversity, welfare reform, fleksjob scheme, denmark, benefits system, youth employment, alan milburn, stephen timms, andy burnham
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/neets-mental-health-neurodivergent-benefits-mcfadden-b3080612.html
- Published: 2026-11-06T19:00:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pat mcfadden, neets, mental health, neurodiversity, welfare reform, fleksjob scheme, denmark, benefits system, youth employment, alan milburn, stephen timms, andy burnham
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden says young people with mental health conditions are better off employed than on benefits, promising major welfare overhauls in twenty twenty-seven.