UK benefits claimants report feelings of moderate to severe depression at twice the rate of the general public, a new study reports.
Researchers at the King’s College London (KCL) found that levels of mental distress are ‘extremely high’ amongst people claiming benefits. Nearly half (43 per cent) of claimants reported thoughts that they would be better off dead or of self-harm in the last fortnight.
To quantify the mental health of British benefit claimants, the researchers examined the responses from a purpose-designed YouGov poll involving 3,801 working-age people claiming Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) between May and June 2022. The study also examined the impact of rules and regulations that come with the benefits and the extent to which the recipients believe these rules are fair.
The findings come from publicly accessible data, and the research The findings come from publicly accessible data, and the research pre-print is awaiting peer review is awaiting peer review.
Mental ill-health was determined using a mixture of clinically validated screening tools (GAD-7, PHQ-9) and self-reporting of mental health conditions, including symptoms, disabilities and work limitations. The results were compared to previous surveys of the general public and a new short survey of 3,499 people.
The researchers say the findings challenge a pre-existing narrative which suggests that benefit claimants do not suffer with mental illness and are gaming the system. Nearly three-quarters of the survey respondents reported a current mental health condition, and almost half reported having ‘thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way’ in the previous fortnight.
Using the clinical validation tools the researchers reported that 61 per cent of respondents showed moderate to severe depression and/or anxiety, twice the level reported in the general public, indicating significant levels of mental ill-health amongst benefit claimants.
Professor Ben Baumberg Geiger, a social scientist from KCL and lead author of the study, said: ‘There is an ongoing narrative that many people receiving benefits do not really have mental health problems. Our study shows that their levels of mental distress are extremely high.’
A significant number of respondents reported that their mental ill health had made it difficult to return to work, with 39 per cent unable to take on work fixed hours and 25 per cent described difficulties getting to work.
The findings show that people who claim benefits and have a mental illness were less likely to be subjected to conditionality and sanctions around their benefit payments. However, for those who did experience sanctions, a quarter of the respondents reported that their Work Coach had not taken into account their mental ill-health and the barriers involved in returning to work.
Professor Baumberg Geiger added: ‘With a Green Paper on benefits due to be presented to Government by the end of March, it is vital that any change to the benefits system in Britain reflects an accurate picture of who is claiming support. Mental distress is not a rare ‘vulnerability’ among people receiving benefits – it is a common part of their experience, and the benefits system must be designed to work for everyone experiencing significant mental ill-health symptoms.’
