Basic Wage means those people aren't "milking the system" - they'll keep doing what they're doing, but it'll cost you less than it costs you now (because you've removed all the expensive bureaucracy between them and the money).
And you're pretty judgemental about mental illness. 20 years ago there was considerable stigma from employers, and less protection in law. Even if he'd wanted to work he would have faced discrimination. That discrimination still exists to some extent, though there are some protections. But now he has learned helplessness. People judging him doesn't seem to be getting him back into work. A programme following the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health model ("place then train" - get someone a job, then support them and the employer to keep that person in the job) would be better, but those aren't common and they're always over-subscribed.
And you're pretty judgemental about mental illness. 20 years ago there was considerable stigma from employers, and less protection in law. Even if he'd wanted to work he would have faced discrimination. That discrimination still exists to some extent, though there are some protections. But now he has learned helplessness. People judging him doesn't seem to be getting him back into work. A programme following the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health model ("place then train" - get someone a job, then support them and the employer to keep that person in the job) would be better, but those aren't common and they're always over-subscribed.