Stories

Tue, 28 Apr 2026

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 'Emergency handbrake' needed on sickness benefits, Blair think tank says

The Tony Blair Institute says people with conditions like anxiety should get employment support instead of cash benefits.

* A think tank, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), recommends introducing an "emergency handbrake" to reduce the number of people receiving health and disability benefits.
* The TBI suggests creating a new category of "non-work limiting conditions", which would apply to anxiety or stress-related disorders, lower back pain, common musculoskeletal conditions, and neurodevelopmental disorders that are compatible with work.
* People diagnosed with mild depression or ADHD should not be eligible for cash benefits, but should instead receive support rather than money.
* The proposals aim to reduce the number of people claiming health and disability benefits, which is expected to reach £78.1bn by 2029-30, a 15% increase on this year.
* Researchers argue that savings from these measures should be re-invested into employment support and treatment, particularly for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions.
* Polling suggests 54% of voters believe the welfare system is too easy to access and does not do enough to prevent misuse.
* Mencap, a learning disability charity, has criticized the proposals as "deeply unhelpful and ill-informed", saying they would push people into deeper anxiety, misery, and poverty.