Labour MP Sojan Joseph has broken ranks to say that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) should be scrapped for claimants with two conditions: mild ADHD and anxiety. He argues that the benefits system must distinguish between conditions that prevent work and those that do not.
MP Calls for Distinction in Severity
Speaking out on the issue, Joseph stated: “Some conditions are severe. But most conditions are not that severe. You can’t just say all ADHDs or all [people with] autism can’t work or should be on benefits. [The system] should distinguish between the severity of the illness. The current system doesn’t have that.”
He added that once people start claiming benefits, it becomes difficult to move them out of the system. “This is where the long-term work needs to happen to identify children at a younger age. Children need to get that help earlier on during their school days.”
Culture of Signing People Off
Joseph criticised what he called a “culture of signing people off for the rest of their lives,” noting that some conditions, especially mental health conditions, are fluctuating. “People may be unwell for a certain period of time. They need to be treated and then get back into work. Work itself has a therapeutic effect.”
While acknowledging that moving more people off benefits and into work would not be “an overnight change,” Joseph emphasised the importance of starting immediately. “I would like to see the change starting from now. We can’t delay this anymore. We’ve got a lost generation. This has been piling up over the last 10 to 15 years.”
Transition and Future Plans
Joseph expressed hope that the transition would be smooth: “I hope there won’t be much disruption. We’re trying to get [through] this transition as smoothly as possible.” He also referenced potential future leadership, saying, “I’m hoping Andy Burnham, if he will be prime minister, is already doing some background work with each department.”
His comments come amid a wider government crackdown on welfare spending, with thousands of renters in England also facing the loss of £367 to their landlords under new rules. The Labour MP’s stance has sparked debate about the future of PIP and the support available for those with mental health conditions.
