Almost 2,000 people in Swindon are receiving benefits due to mental and behavioural disorders.

The Employment and Support Allowance is provided to people who are struggling to work due to long term health conditions. It is available to those unable to work completely, and for people whose hours are limited by their condition.

Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show 1,984 people in Swindon were claiming ESA due to mental or behavioural conditions as of last summer – 47 per cent of the 4,217 claimants in the area.

These conditions accounted for almost half of the 1.6 million people claiming the benefit across Great Britain and were the most common reason in every area and region.

In Swindon, they were followed by 'musculoskeletal' diseases – issues with joints, bones and muscles – with 535 people receiving ESA.

Megan Pennell, from Mind, said a lack of mental health support was keeping people out of the job market.

She added: "We are concerned about the increasing rhetoric suggesting that benefits for disabled people and people experiencing long-term health conditions should be reduced. At the time of a cost-of-living crisis, this is unconscionable.

"People need to be offered tailored support from experts if they are to return to work, not threats of losing what little money they currently have to live on."

As of December 2023, two million people were on Universal Credit health benefits, including 6,635 in Swindon. This was a rise from 1.6 million (5,616 in Swindon) a year earlier.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said these benefits are "inadequate" and can make people with mental health problems feel worse.

Senior policy advisor Iain Porter warned upcoming changes to the work capability assessment could cause hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled people to lose out, and called on the government to implement an "essentials guarantee" to ensure people can afford basic items.

A DWP spokesperson said: "Our landmark welfare reforms will cut the number of people due to be put onto the highest tier of incapacity benefits by over 370,000 and instead give them personalised support, while our Chance to Work Guarantee will mean people can try work without fear of losing their benefits.

"In total our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will help over a million people to break down barriers to work, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions."