£6bn Cuts, Unsafe Workplaces, and a Mental Health Crisis: Why Government Policy is Failing Disabled Workers

A blog from our National President Ian Hodson

The UK government’s announcement of £6 billion in welfare cuts to push disabled people back into work is being framed as a measure to promote independence and economic productivity. However, without stronger health and safety protections, this policy will fail—worsening work-related ill health, forcing people into unsuitable roles, and ultimately increasing the number of people unable to work.

Rather than providing real support, these cuts are yet another attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the poorest. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which oversees both the benefits system and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is failing on both fronts—pushing people into employment while ignoring the dangerous conditions that drive them out of work in the first place.

At the heart of this policy is a fundamentally flawed assumption: that a person’s worth is based on their ability to work. Some people will never be able to work due to chronic illness, disability, or complex health conditions—and that should not mean they are treated as less valuable members of society. A decent and compassionate society does not force people into unsuitable work for the sake of economic output but ensures that everyone, regardless of their ability to work, can live with dignity.

The Scale of Work-Related Ill Health

The latest HSE workplace health and safety statistics (2023/24) expose the reality of working conditions in the UK:

• 1.8 million people are suffering from work-related ill health.
• 875,000 cases are linked to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety—making poor mental health the leading cause of work-related illness.
• 35.2 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and injury.
• 470,000 workers sustained an injury at work, with 62,000 serious injuries reported.
• The estimated cost of work-related ill health and injuries is a staggering £20.7 billion—more than three times the government’s planned cuts to disability benefits.

This data undermines the government’s claim that work is the best route out of poverty. When work itself is damaging people’s health—both physically and mentally—pushing more disabled people into employment without fixing these issues will only create more suffering.

The Mental Health Crisis in the Workplace

The rise in mental ill health among workers should be a national scandal. According to the HSE:

• Work-related stress, depression, and anxiety now account for over half (52%) of all work-related ill health cases.
• Sectors like health and social care, education, and public administration are among the worst affected, with record levels of burnout and stress.
• Many jobs do not have adequate adjustments for workers with disabilities or mental health conditions, making it harder for them to stay in work.

Rather than addressing this crisis, the government is increasing pressure on disabled and sick people to take up work, even when it will damage their health further.

Not Everyone Can Work—And That’s Okay

One of the most dangerous aspects of this policy is the assumption that everyone is capable of work, if only they try hard enough. This ignores the reality that many people live with conditions that make work impossible, and forcing them into unsuitable employment will only cause harm.

For some people, even part-time or flexible work is not an option due to:

• Severe physical disabilities
• Chronic illnesses that fluctuate unpredictably
• Significant mental health conditions
• The cumulative impact of years of ill health and inadequate support

A person’s worth is not defined by their economic output. A fair society provides for those who cannot work without stigma, punishment, or coercion. The idea that a person must contribute to the economy to deserve basic dignity is a fundamentally inhumane approach to social policy.

Cuts Disguised as “Support”

The government claims these cuts will help disabled people find meaningful work, but in reality, they are designed to strip away support, not provide it.

• The removal of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) will mean fewer disabled people qualifying for benefits, even when they are unable to work.
• Employers face little pressure to make workplaces accessible, meaning many disabled workers will be pushed into unsuitable, insecure, and low-paid jobs.
• The rise in work-related stress and burnout suggests that conditions are getting worse, not better.

If the government truly wanted to help disabled people into work, it would focus on investing in workplace safety, stronger rights for workers, and better mental health support—not cutting the support they rely on.

The DWP’s Failure on Health and Safety

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) oversees both benefits and workplace safety through the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, it is failing workers on both sides:

         1.         HSE Enforcement is Weakening

• HSE prosecutions against employers have fallen sharply, meaning unsafe workplaces go unpunished.
• There are fewer inspections, leaving many workers in hazardous conditions.
• Employers are rarely held accountable for work-related ill health and injuries.

         2.         The Benefits System is Designed to Punish, Not Support

• Disabled people are being forced to look for work even when they are too unwell to do so.
• Sanctions, reassessments, and forced job placements are increasing stress and financial hardship.
• Pushing sick and disabled people into unsafe work environments will only exacerbate mental and physical health issues.

Real Solutions: Investment, Not Cuts

If the government truly wanted to support disabled people into work, it would focus on:

• Stronger workplace safety regulations and enforcement to protect workers from harm.
• Employer responsibility for mental health and accessibility to ensure jobs are sustainable.
• Secure jobs with proper adjustments for disabled workers, rather than forcing them into insecure or unsuitable roles.
• A benefits system that provides real support, rather than forcing people into low-paid, poor-quality work with no safety net.
• A recognition that some people will never be able to work—and ensuring they have the support they need to live with dignity.

Instead, the government is taking the cheapest route—forcing vulnerable people into a broken system that will only make their health worse. Unless workplace protections improve and mental health support is strengthened, these cuts will only lead to more people falling out of work, rather than into it.

A just society does not measure people by their ability to work. It ensures that everyone—whether in work or not—has the right to live with dignity, safety, and respect.