Latest news with #GetBritainWorking
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
DWP new plan for PIP claimants with three common conditions
DWP new plan for PIP claimants with three common conditions This investment will allocate up to £300,000 to each locality in Wales and England The scheme aligns with the Labour Government's Plan for Change (Image: Getty ) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled a new initiative to fast-track treatment for individuals with back, joint, and muscle problems in regions with the longest waiting times for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. This is a key component of the UK Government's latest 'Get Britain Working' white paper. Recent statistics from the DWP indicate that as of the end of January, over 1.1 million people in England and Wales were in receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP). After this month's annual uprating, the value of a successful PIP claim now ranges from £116.80 to £749.80 per four-week payment cycle. The Government is allocating a £3.5 million fund, to be shared among 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England, aimed at enhancing MSK services as part of its crusade against economic inactivity — where individuals are neither employed nor actively seeking employment. This investment will allocate up to £300,000 to each locality in Wales and England targeting one of the principal causes of economic inactivity. The scheme aligns with the Labour Government's Plan for Change, aspiring to "put more money into people's pockets and get the NHS back on its feet", reports the Daily Record. The MSK Community Delivery Programme, overseen by NHS England's GIRFT programme, is set to equip ICBs with the necessary resources and guidance to streamline MSK patient treatment, reduce waiting times and assist patients' return to work. Article continues below Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, recently remarked: "For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working. It's stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential." McGovern continued: "This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again." According to the UK Government, 2.8 million individuals are not working due to long-standing health conditions, with MSK being the second most cited reason after mental health. Approximately 646,000 people, which equates to nearly one in four (23%), claim MSK as their chief health concern. With waiting lists for MSK services forming the longest backlog in the community sector in England—standing at 348,799 individuals as of September 2024, and an estimated 23.4 million workdays lost due to MSK ailments in 2022—the push for improvement is imperative. Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, recently remarked: "With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce. "Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy." In several of the 17 ICB locations leading the implementation of this initiative, NHS England's Further Faster 20 programme and the UK Government's newly unveiled WorkWell programme are also being conducted. Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, commented: "With over 20 million people living with musculoskeletal conditions, including 10 million with arthritis, Versus Arthritis understands the devastating impact these conditions can have on working lives. "Arthritis can cause debilitating pain, joint stiffness and prevent people doing everyday tasks, with work sometimes made to feel an impossible challenge. "MSK Community Services can be an invaluable resource for people with arthritis, and we are delighted to see the launch of this programme in dedicated sites across England, and in the future across the whole country." Article continues below The Government unveiled the Get Britain Working White Paper in November, marking the most significant overhaul of employment support in a generation. This initiative aims to integrate skills and health to increase employment rates and career progression.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Midlands areas named among child poverty hotspots
A number of Midlands areas have been named among the UK's child poverty hotspots. A total of 4.5 million children were living in poverty in the year ending March 2024 - the last full year under the Conservative Government - according to the latest figures from the DWP. A new interactive map (below) allows people to check rates in their postcode. Areas coloured in darker purple have higher deprivation levels. READ MORE: Five-word text message landing on phones could empty your bank account Get our local newsletters like Black Country News, MySolihull and MySuttonColdfield straight to your inbox The Birmingham areas of Bordesley Green and Heartlands were third and fourth on the national list, with seven in 10 kids living in poverty. Figures showed more evidence of the north/south divide, with the 20 worst affected areas all in the north of England and Birmingham. Taking a closer look at the map, a number of the worst-hit areas can be seen in east and south east Birmingham, as well as Aston. Struggling areas include Ward End; Tyseley and Hay Mills; and Bromford and Hodge Hill. Parts of Walsall, Sandwell and Wolverhampton also have around half of children living in poverty. It comes amid the continued row over the two-child benefit cap, labelled by critics as "cruel" amid claims it is responsible for deepening child poverty. Under the cap, parents can only claim Universal Credit and tax credits for their first two children. As poorer families tend to be bigger, this policy hits those struggling the most. Pressure is continuing on the Labour Government to scrap the cap. Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK and chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: 'Scrapping the two-child limit is a crucial first step to address rising child poverty across the UK. 'By doing this the Government could also see a boost to local economies, targeting some of the most deprived areas of the country. 'We don't want to see another year of families suffering as a result of the two-child limit. "The Government must scrap this policy as part of their soon to be published strategy to tackle child poverty." A Government spokesperson said: 'No child should be in poverty – that's why our ministerial taskforce is developing an ambitious strategy to give every child the best start in life as part of our Plan for Change. 'Alongside delivering on our Get Britain Working reforms to support people into good jobs and make everyone better off, we have increased the Living Wage, uprated benefits and are supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income households.'
New Statesman
19-05-2025
- Health
- New Statesman
Parity of esteem has never been delivered
A fan holds a sign promoting mental health awareness, outside Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux stadium. Photo by Dan Mullan / Getty Images. Before becoming an MP, I worked in the NHS for 22 years, primarily in mental health services. In my previous profession, I had seen the worst of it: children as young as nine self-harming, and people taking their lives whilst on waiting lists. The so-called 'parity of esteem' the coalition government had spoken about was never delivered. In fact, mental health services were some of the first to be cut as the NHS's budgets tightened in the austerity period. But since then we have seen drastic social changes which have worsened young peoples' mental health. Generation Z are more dependent on social media and more isolated from their peers. Technology has become both more central to their daily lives and accessible from an early age. As a result, their need for mental health services has increased at a time when they have been depleted and it's harder than ever to access treatment. Our system and attitudes towards mental health are outdated. The fact it has taken 42 years to update the UK's primary piece of mental health legislation is perhaps the biggest indictment of how reluctant we have been to address it. I was pleased to hear in the King's Speech that this government is ready to grasp the nettle of mental health reform and pass a new Bill that addresses the multifaceted issues caused by the 1983 Mental Health Act. That includes the lack of autonomy given to patients, and the class and racial disparities of those detained under the provisions of the law. Many patients are reliant on the NHS for long-term care after being discharged, and we cannot solve the crisis unless we look at a wider approach which encompasses social care, local agencies to support patients who need rehousing, and, most importantly, rethink what we expect from the NHS. Legislation can only take us so far. I know from my own experience that recruitment and retention is something the government must consider in their Workforce Plan – expected to be published this summer. Fewer people want to become mental health nurses, and it's understandable why: hours are long, and the pay is low compared to the private sector. This means that we rely on huge numbers of foreign workers, which is unsustainable. The long-term solution is to incentivise local people to begin lifetime careers in the NHS. That means investing in the workforce, not trying to constantly do more with less. We must be willing to talk about the merits of other reforms outside of the healthcare system – such welfare reforms in the government's Get Britain Working plans. I know from my previous profession that many people with mental health issues and long-term health conditions can thrive in the workplace when given the necessary support, and it can hugely benefit their mental wellbeing. The Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was correct in her assessment that health and welfare are 'two sides of the same coin'. This can be seen most of all in young people. The Neet population (not in employment, education, or training) has been growing – it is around one in eight people aged 16-24. These people have disproportionately high mental health issues. We currently have 2.8 million people locked out of work due to long-term health conditions – 200,000 of whom are actively searching for employment. Part of the future of the mental health system will be providing the correct support for people – helping them raise their living standards and improving their mental health. The mental health system will be in a constant state of evolution. My former colleagues in the mental health sector will be learning to grapple with issues faced by a generation increasingly dependent on technology which makes them more connected with the rest of the world, yet more isolated from their peers and more in need of mental health services than ever before. This article first appeared in the 15 May Spotlight policy report on Healthcare. To read the full report click here. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK wage growth slows and vacancies drop, as labour market cools
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Wage growth across the UK has slowed, and the number of people on payrolls has fallen, as Britain's jobs market continues to cool. The latest UK labour market data, just released, shows that average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) rose by 5.6% in January to March 2025, down from 5.9% in the previous quarter. Growth in pay including bonuses also slowed – it rose by 5.5% in January-March, down from 5.7% in the final three months of 2024. In January to March 2025, average weekly earnings were up 5.6% on the year excluding bonuses and 5.5% including bonuses. Regular pay grew fastest in the retail and hospitality sector. Read the release ➡️ — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) May 13, 2025 Although wages growth slowed, earnings are still rising faster than prices in the shops. Once you adjust for inflation, pay (both regular and total) rose by 2.6% per year on both measures. Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern has said: 'Real wages are growing with around 200,000 more people into work since the publication of our Get Britain Working plan. 'But we know that the Government's Plan for Change needs more workers – in every part of our country. That's why we will continue to change Jobcentres, invest in British industry, and get help to those who need it until everyone who can work has got a decent job and a good income.' But, today's report also shows a drop in demand for workers, as UK companies adjust to the increase in the minimum wage, and higher national insurance contributions, which kicked in at the start of April. The Office for National Statistics reports that the number of payrolled employees felled by 33,000 in April, following a 47,000 drop in March. On an annual basis, there were 106,000 fewer payrolled employees in April than a year ago, the ONS estimates. In another sign that firms are being cautious, the number of vacancies in the UK fell by 42,000 in the January-March quarter, the 34th consecutive quarterly decline in a row. The biggest fall came in the construction sector ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown says: 'Wage growth slowed slightly in the latest period but remains relatively strong, with public and private sectors now showing little difference. 'The broader picture continues to be of the labour market cooling, with the number of employees on payroll falling in the first quarter of the year. The number of job vacancies has also fallen again, with the rate of decline increasing in the last few months.' The agenda 7am BST: UK labour market report 10am BST: ZEW survey of eurozone economic confidence 10am BST: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) to quiz the CEO, CFO and Chair of Thames Water 1.30pm BST: US inflation report for April Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Here are more key facts from this morning's jobs report: The UK employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 75.0% in January to March 2025. This is above estimates of a year ago, but largely unchanged in the latest quarter. The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over was estimated at 4.5% in January to March 2025. This is above estimates of a year ago, and up in the latest quarter. The UK economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 21.4% in January to March 2025. This is below estimates of a year ago, and down in the latest quarter. Share Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Wage growth across the UK has slowed, and the number of people on payrolls has fallen, as Britain's jobs market continues to cool. The latest UK labour market data, just released, shows that average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) rose by 5.6% in January to March 2025, down from 5.9% in the previous quarter. Growth in pay including bonuses also slowed – it rose by 5.5% in January-March, down from 5.7% in the final three months of 2024. In January to March 2025, average weekly earnings were up 5.6% on the year excluding bonuses and 5.5% including bonuses. Regular pay grew fastest in the retail and hospitality sector. Read the release ➡️ — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) May 13, 2025 Although wages growth slowed, earnings are still rising faster than prices in the shops. Once you adjust for inflation, pay (both regular and total) rose by 2.6% per year on both measures. Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern has said: 'Real wages are growing with around 200,000 more people into work since the publication of our Get Britain Working plan. 'But we know that the Government's Plan for Change needs more workers – in every part of our country. That's why we will continue to change Jobcentres, invest in British industry, and get help to those who need it until everyone who can work has got a decent job and a good income.' But, today's report also shows a drop in demand for workers, as UK companies adjust to the increase in the minimum wage, and higher national insurance contributions, which kicked in at the start of April. The Office for National Statistics reports that the number of payrolled employees felled by 33,000 in April, following a 47,000 drop in March. On an annual basis, there were 106,000 fewer payrolled employees in April than a year ago, the ONS estimates. In another sign that firms are being cautious, the number of vacancies in the UK fell by 42,000 in the January-March quarter, the 34th consecutive quarterly decline in a row. The biggest fall came in the construction sector ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown says: 'Wage growth slowed slightly in the latest period but remains relatively strong, with public and private sectors now showing little difference. 'The broader picture continues to be of the labour market cooling, with the number of employees on payroll falling in the first quarter of the year. The number of job vacancies has also fallen again, with the rate of decline increasing in the last few months.' The agenda 7am BST: UK labour market report 10am BST: ZEW survey of eurozone economic confidence 10am BST: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) to quiz the CEO, CFO and Chair of Thames Water 1.30pm BST: US inflation report for April Share
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New DWP plans to help long-term unemployed people back into work
DWP aims to shift from being a 'department for employment support and welfare to being one for work'. Reasons your Universal Credit may be cut by DWP Minister for Employment Alison McGovern has shared details on new plans to help long-term unemployed people back into work. The UK Government's 'Get Britain Working White Paper', published in November last year, sets out the biggest reforms by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to employment support for a generation and achieve an 80 per cent employment rate. In a written response to Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, Ms McGovern said the DWP will 'shift from being a department for employment support and welfare to being a department for work'. She explained: 'This means a new, locally led system of work and health support being available for those who are unemployed, bringing together existing locally delivered employment support as a single coherent offer that is part of areas' local growth plans.' The DWP Minister continued: 'In the Autumn 2024 Budget, £240 million funding for the White Paper measures was announced. This funding is helping us deliver and build on labour market reforms to Get Britain Working.' The funding included: £55m funding for both the digital development of the new public employment and careers service and the tests and trials for its development £170m for 16 trailblazers, 8 testing delivery of the Youth Guarantee in areas across England and 8 to tackle economic inactivity through increased engagement and tailored approaches in England and Wales An additional £15m to support trailblazers and development of local Get Britain Working plans Ms McGovern added: 'These measures complement contracted employment support for the long-term unemployed.' Online consultation The DWP has published the 'Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working' consultation online at The consultation is seeking views on the approaches the UK Government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support. The consultation on states: 'This Green Paper is an important staging post on a journey of reform, building on the vision and approach set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper in November 2024. It sets out our vision, strategy and proposals for change.' It continues: 'We want to improve and refine our plans by consulting on certain measures as described within this paper. We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do.' Who can complete the consultation? The DWP is encouraging a 'wide group' of people to share their views 'in particular disabled people and people with health conditions and disability organisations'. This consultation applies to England, Wales and Scotland. All the proposals apply in England, but it's important to be aware that the proposals will only apply to the UK Government's areas of responsibility in England, Wales and Scotland. DWP is also be running a number of 'accessible virtual and face to face events' on the consultation. More information on the details of these events and on how to register can be found on here. To complete the consultation, scroll to the bottom of the page here where it says 'Ways to respond'. The consultation will close on June 30, 2025. Summary of proposed benefits changes Universal Credit The latest statistics show there were 7.57 million people on Universal Credit, a means-tested incapacity benefit, in Great Britain as of February. It is aimed at helping people on a low income or those who are out of work. The UKGovernment said it will introduce an above-inflation rise to the standard Universal Credit allowance by 2029/30 - adding £775 in cash terms annually. But the health element allowance will be almost halved for new claimants from April next year while those already claiming will have their amount frozen until 2029/2030. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is to be scrapped in 2028, having been described by Liz Kendall as 'complex, time consuming and often stressful for claimants'. The UK Government said it will legislate for a so-called 'right to try', which will allow people to try work without the fear their benefits will automatically be put at risk. The Government said it will consult on delaying access to the Universal Credit health element until someone is aged 22. The latest figures showed there were 109,436 people aged 16 to 21 on Universal Credit health in December 2024. PIP Nearly 3.7 million claimants in England and Wales were entitled to PIP as of the end of January, the latest figures showed - up 71 per cent on the equivalent figure five years earlier when it stood at 2.14 million. The payment is aimed at helping with some of the extra costs caused by long-term disability and ill health and is not dependent on whether someone is working or not. Some people will lose their PIP entitlement, the UK Government said, as the process to qualify is tightened in an effort to focus the disability benefit on 'those with higher needs'. The UK Government said it will bring in a new eligibility requirement for a minimum score of at least four points regarding how much help the person needs with everyday tasks on the daily living element of the benefit. No change is being proposed for the mobility element, which looks at how much help someone needs in getting around. The UK Government confirmed the change 'means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future'. The UK Government also committed to not putting Universal Credit claimants who have the most severe disabilities and health conditions that will never improve through the ordeal of being reassessed for benefits 'to give them the confidence and dignity they deserve'. However the UK Government said it plans to increase the number of face-to-face assessments in PIP and under the current Work Capability Assessment in a bid to 'give confidence to claimants and taxpayers that they're being done properly'. The UK Government said it will also consult on raising the age at which people can claim PIP from 16 to 18.
