New DWP plans to help people with a disability or health condition find and stay in work
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out plans to help disabled people and those with health conditions on Universal Credit find and stay in work. Proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been put on hold until the outcome of a review of the assessment process, which will be co-produced by Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms and disability groups.
This is due to be completed by next Autumn, however, changes to Universal Credit are already underway. Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, set out the plans in a written response to Independent MP Andrew Gwynne, who asked 'what steps are being taken to support disabled people to find work'.
Ms McGovern said: 'Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live.'
The DWP Minister continued: 'Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems.'
Measures include:
Support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres
Access to Work grants
Joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies
Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care
Ms McGovern said: 'We are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and people with health conditions in at least a generation.
'We announced in the recent Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work.
'This is backed up by £2.2 billion over four years, including £200m in 2026/27 when our benefit changes begin to take effect and as announced in the statement on Welfare Reform (June 30) by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, an additional £300 million over the next three years.
'This brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament.'
She added: 'Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched in November 2024, will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate.'
To increase employment opportunities and support for disabled people and those with health conditions, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review to look at how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence.
Sir Charlie will deliver his final report in the Autumn.
Ms McGovern said: 'Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce.
'Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.'
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