Online 'sickfluencers' blasted by Conservatives for rise in mental health benefit claims

Online 'sickfluencers' blasted by Conservatives for rise in mental health benefit claims Helen Whately said the welfare system was working in a 'way that nobody intended it to' Sign up to the Politics Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us So-called "sickfluencers", who coach people on how to claim benefits, have been blamed for the surge in benefits claims. Helen Whately, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said previous campaigns to improve mental health care had fuelled a rise in benefits claims for conditions such as anxiety and ADHD .

The rise of sickfluencers has previously been condemned by Robert Jenrick, who warned that people were being taught how to "game the system". Mrs Whately, who has previously campaigned on mental health issues, argued that some people with milder mental health conditions should be supported into work, rather than be taught how to receive benefits. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say She told The Times: "I turned up as somebody who campaigned on mental health and really cared about it.

"But what was an unintended consequence of the campaign for better mental health care is much more of a medicalisation of milder mental health — and a huge surge in claims for those conditions like anxiety and for neurodiversity, particularly ADHD." She also said her own personal experience of serious mental illness within her own family had given her a "moral purpose" to reform the benefits system. The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said the welfare system was now working in a "way that nobody intended it to".

Helen Whately said she had entered Parliament by campaigning on mental health issues | PA She added: "As a compassionate person, and as most people in this country, I feel that we should help those who are most seriously sick and disabled. "But our system has gone far beyond that to an extent that it is doing a disservice to people actually with a milder health condition. These are people who could be better off supported to be at work, but instead, the system incentivises them to be on welfare and unemployed."

Mrs Whately said the Government should "assess effectively" who genuinely needs help and take a "courageous" approach to welfare. She accused Labour of being unwilling to take support from those currently in receipt of benefits. THE BALLOONING BENEFITS BILL - READ MORE: Andy Burnham urged to spend extra £6bn on getting Britons back into work in major welfare shake-up Britain's rising benefits bill to wipe out £33bn raised through 'stealth tax' on workers, analysis finds Benefits bill will be cut in 'fair and sustainable way', Emma Reynolds tells GB News The welfare system is now working in a 'way that nobody intended it to', Mrs Whately said | PA "You've got to do it," she said.

"You've got to say, 'if we want there to be a welfare system for those who are most disabled and face really substantial extra costs and challenges, then we have got to target the support'." Her remarks follow the Conservatives' plans to slash the ballooning benefits bill by £36billion to fund defence and meet John Healey's three per cent of GDP target. Those plans would cut around £13.7billion from tighter rules for sickness and disability benefits.

The party said it would end personal independence payments (PIP) eligibility for lower-level mental health conditions and reassess current claimants under tough rules. Alan Milburn, who leads the Government's review into welfare, previously admitted personal independence payments (PIP) were "no longer fit for purpose". A Labour spokesman told the newspaper: "The Conservatives designed and implemented this benefit system, which has driven large numbers of people to be signed off and written off.

"Their last year in Government, after 14 years of failure, saw the welfare bill rise by a record £33billion, in a single year, with no meaningful reforms. "We are tackling their collapse in face-to-face assessments, bringing in personalised employment support for sick and disabled people and spreading opportunity to young people through the Youth Guarantee. Further reforms will follow the Milburn and Timms Reviews." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Live Politics John Healey accused of surrendering to welfare fraudsters by scrapping plans to save £200m of taxpayers' cash Politics Alastair Campbell blasts 'snowflake' label as he warns young Britons face tougher future than parents Politics Millions of Britons face Vinted and eBay ban as Government 'looks seriously' at crackdown Politics Rishi Sunak renews national service push as he warns Britain must prepare for cyberattacks Politics Nigel Farage fumes over 'bogus' and 'dishonest' poll that sees Labour build up THIRTEEN-point lead over Reform UK Politics Andy Burnham urged to spend extra £6bn on getting Britons back into work in major welfare shake-up Politics Andy Burnham's 'EU reset' set to cost British families over £1.2k, new research shows Politics Lisa Nandy blames Tories for 'politicising' Remembrance Sunday after Labour got slammed for 'tone deaf' EU message Politics Zack Polanski wears a white poppy as Greens leader overlooks the Cenotaph during Remembrance Sunday Politics Andy Burnham vows to splash cash on Armed Forces 'to keep Britain safe' as part of Remembrance Sunday tribute Politics Andy Burnham insists closer EU ties will lower cost of living Politics 'Tone deaf' Labour accused of using Remembrance Sunday to 'pitch EU membership' Politics Labour MPs revolt against Andy Burnham’s trans law amid fears parents could face jail Analysis Politics Nigel Farage's heartfelt WW1 film shows what the Reform UK leader really cares about Politics Countryside fears mount over Labour crackdown on game-bird shooting Exclusive Politics Labour MPs slammed as ‘hypocrites’ for hiding salary promises in job ads while ordering businesses to share them Politics Andy Burnham's EU reset bid sparks fear within Labour over 'reigniting support for Reform' Politics Andy Burnham to 'look closely' at reforming rape trials to encourage more women to come forward Exclusive Politics Labour accused of abandoning Britain's White Van Man with broken promises: 'Little reason to hope!'

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