Charity Rethink Mental Illness has launched a free advice pack explaining how new changes to the benefits system will affect people with mental illness.

The guide includes information on the new personal independence payment, which is replacing disability living allowance. It also offers advice on how changes to council tax benefit, housing benefit and the social fund could impact on people with mental health problems.

Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “The Government has made big changes to the benefits system recently, and we want to make sure that people with mental illness get the right information on how this affects them.

“We’ve put together this pack, so that people can find what they need to know in plain English. We hope that with this information, people will feel more confident about what’s happening and more able to press for the support they need.”

Fighting for a fairer welfare system

Jenkins added that the charity is also still campaigning on issues relating to welfare and disability benefits. “As well as giving people the right information, we’re also fighting for a fairer welfare system. The current work capability assessment [for employment and support allowance] discriminates against some of the most ill and vulnerable people in our society, the very people it is meant to support.

“This is the number one issue for our members and supporters and we will keep campaigning on behalf of everyone we represent until the whole process is fair for everyone.”

The pack is free to download here