Charities slam Tony Blair think tank report on disability benefits

"The research from the Tony Blair Institute argues that conditions like moderate depression, ADHD, and lower-back pain should be classed as non-work-limiting, meaning the default assumption is that they should not stop an individual from working."

"This could be an emergency handbrake on welfare spending, the group adds, shaving 11.5bn by 2029, urging ministers to use secondary legislation to push through the changes."

"Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the charity Mencap, called the proposals deeply unhelpful and ill-informed, stating that the research ignores the lived reality of people with a learning disability."

The Independent focuses on critical issues like reproductive rights and climate change while advocating for accessible journalism without paywalls. A report from the Tony Blair Institute suggests that conditions like moderate depression and ADHD should not qualify for cash benefits, which has sparked backlash from disability charities. The report claims this could reduce welfare spending significantly. The Department for Work and Pensions is considering the report, but charities argue it overlooks the realities faced by individuals with disabilities and promotes harmful stereotypes about welfare.

Read at www.independent.co.uk