Leading mental health charities including Rethink Mental Illness and Mind have welcomed the House of Lords’ amends to the Welfare Reform Bill but warned that more changes are still required.

The key part of the amendments on employment and support allowance (ESA), passed by the House of Lords earlier this week was an extension from 1 to 2 years before members of the work related activity group of ESA face a means test.

Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, said: "We’re delighted that Peers have listened to disability campaigners and agree with us that the Bill would cause harm to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

"It’s absolutely right that those with serious conditions like cancer retain vital support. However, we see no reason why people with severe and enduring mental illnesses such as schizophrenia aren't also exempt from the proposed ESA time limits."

Mind’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, added: "We hope that the Government respects this strong message that stringent time constraints for ESA will have a very damaging effect on disabled people, including many with mental health problems.

"Mind has been campaigning for many years for a fair and effective welfare system which meets the needs of people with mental health problems and we hope that further improvements continue to be made to the Welfare Reform Bill so that we can keep moving towards this goal."

Those further changes could be implemented next Tuesday when the Lords debate changes to disability living allowance.