Financial Security
Social Security
Social security should ideally act as a safety net, ensuring that everyone has enough money required to live a dignified life. Social security includes benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and the benefits people receive when they have children.
Some people may rely on social security for a short time if they are unable to work due to their mental ill-health, whilst others with severe mental health problems may require social security their whole life.
We believe the social security systems should allow for a decent standard of living, and should operate in a way that does not stigmatise or discriminate against people with mental health problems.
Read more about our views on social security:
- SAMH’s View on Social Security
- ‘It was a confusion’ – Universal Credit and mental health: recommendations for change
Debt
Many people have debt of some kind and as long as the debt is manageable, it usually doesn’t cause problems.
However, there are links between financial pressures, debt and experiencing mental ill-health. 86% of people with mental health problems feel their financial situation made their mental health worse and 72% say their mental health made their financial circumstances worse.
We think there should be better mental health awareness training for those working in financial services, as well as protocols for debt collection from people experiencing mental ill-health.
Read more about our views on debt and mental health:
- SAMH’s View on Debt
