https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/tags/iainduncansmith/Recent content in iainduncansmith on Birmingham DailyHugo -- gohugo.ioen-usMon, 27 Apr 2026 05:33:28 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/dwp-urged-to-halt-payments-for-1.6-million-mental-health-benefit-claimants/Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:33:28 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/dwp-urged-to-halt-payments-for-1.6-million-mental-health-benefit-claimants/Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has sharply criticized the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for what he describes as “absurd” welfare payments to those with mental health conditions. He blames lenient Labour Party policies and weak oversight for encouraging a growing culture of dependency, all while taxpayers bear the cost. Duncan Smith, who designed the UK’s Universal Credit system during his tenure as Work and Pensions Secretary from 2010 to 2016, is calling for stricter controls on mental health-related benefit claims.