Does anyone know how people with severe and enduring mental illness are going to be assessed when the govrenment change the rules. this is causing a lot off my clients a deal of distress as there has been no details about how they will be deemed fit or unfit to work.
I am a CPN working in SE London but do care co-ordinattion for my client group.

I don't think that's there is anything at all concrete in the proposals as yet on this issue, aside from a couple of mentions that people with mental health problems can work if they have the right support and employers stop discriminating against people with MH issues.

There is a statement that no-one currently on benefit will be worse off as a result of the changes, if and when they happen (remember there's still an election yet and you never know...) so that may provide some reassurance.

For new claimants, they will initially be put on a holding benefit paid at JSA rates pending a 'proper' medical assessment - ie the Personal Capability Assessment - that will take place within 12 weeks, and be accompanied by a fuller assessment of potential future work capacity - a new Employment and Support Assessment. More details can be found in RN news story click here for link

I agree with Paul that it seems that there's not much flesh on the bone behind these proposals yet... so I don't think you'll be able to give the people you work with any concrete reassurance for some time...

The short answer is that the people you work with who are currently either getting Incapacity Benefit or Income Support through the sickness route shouldn't be affected as the Government say the new system will only apply to new claimants 'by 2008'...

However looking into my crystal ball my GUESS is that even for new claimants, SOME form of exemption from the proposed new 'two prong' medical assessment (as there currently is for the Personal Capability Assessment) will have to be put in place, both for people with mental health and physical health issues... even if only because the potential for bad publicity if EVERYONE were to be called is huge!

Presumably this will still be based on asking GPs for details on someone's diagnosois and situation... which is of course often NOT the best source of information where people with mental health problems are concerned.

We'll also have to wait and see whether receipients of DLA higher care will continue to be exempted...

I would EXPECT (and again this is semi-educated guesswork)the majority of people within your client group in the future to be considered for the 'Disability and Sickness Allowance' element of the replacement benefit, whether or not they actually end up having to go through a medical assessment. After all, the Government's main target are obviously people with anxiety, depression and/ or back pain...

What does concern me though is that my reading of the proposals suggests that even people accepted as having 'the most severe conditions' - i.e. recipients of 'DSA'- will still have to go through work focused interviews... (but again I assume that at least the current arrangements to 'deferr' or 'waive' as within Jobcentreplus and Pathways to Work pilots will remain in place)

I guess the luckier recipients of benefits will be the ones with someone there to make calls on their behalf, go along to interviews and generally be supportive with benefits work...

That some though, whether supported or not, will fall through the now larger holes of the safety net seems certain...