Labour and DWP warned over 'human cost' of sweeping shake-up to benefits

The Labour Party and Department for Work and Pensions have been warned over the "human cost" of planned reforms to benefits. The Labour Party and DWP could bring in sweeping changes for benefits in the Autumn Budget next week.

Ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivering her Budget and fiscal statement, ,experts have sounded a warning. In the Big Issue,Dr Amanda Light - who is a Mildred Blaxter Postdoctoral Fellow at Nottingham Trent University - said: " We met people like James and Kane, whose names have been changed, who disclosed similar stories of mental health issues, substance abuse and homelessness."

James shared: “I was sick of living on the streets. I was sick of being scruffy. My mental health deteriorated; I was suicidal. I was just really generally unwell, mentally unwell, which were induced by the drugs. I’d had enough. It were either give it a go and try and stop it or end it.”

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A second named Kane shared: “I hope from five years from now I’ll be working, well, even two or three like. I’ve been more stable since I got out of hospital, cause they changed my meds and that, so I think I’m on right meds now. I’m not so zombified and have more clarity of thought.”

No.10 confirmed last week that the total spending envelope had been submitted to the Office for Budget Responsibility. The prime minister’s official spokesman added: "Not every department will be able to do everything they want to. There will be tough decisions taken, there will be tough conversations, but ultimately this government has been very clear that it will fix the foundations, it will fix the position in relation to the public finances.”

The report author warned: "Precarious, irregular jobs are increasingly common, and evidence suggests that disabled people are 1.5 times more likely to be on insecure contracts with fewer workers’ rights. It is additionally recognised that it is decent work, not just any work, that is beneficial for mental health.

"It is difficult to see how welfare-to-work reform can be a positive force for good without addressing wider structural issues and existing inequalities." The expert also called on Ms Reeves to "listen" to the voices of benefits claimants.