Government aims to help ill and disabled people into work

The government has launched a review into helping ill and disabled people find jobs and stay in work.

Led by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield, the independent review will identify the obstacles and opportunities for business when it comes to hiring ill and disabled people and keeping them on.

The review will move at pace, with a set of recommendations due to be published in the autumn.

This comes as the government prepares to unveil reforms to health and disability benefits in the spring.

Ill and disabled people ‘not fulfilling their potential’

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said millions of people have been left without support to get into work and on at work.

This, she said, means they’ve been “completely held back from reaching their potential for far too long”.

“The record-high cost of long-term sickness benefits is evidence of that fact,” Ms Kendall commented.

Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the CBI, agreed, saying that lower rates of employment for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities is “a tragic waste of potential”.

“It denies people the opportunity to improve their personal financial security through work and prevents businesses from using their valuable skills and experience to grow the economy,” she said.

Ms Newton-Smith added that this new review is a “welcome opportunity” for business and government to come up with “solutions that have a real impact”.

According to government figures, over one in three working age people are reporting a long-term health condition.

Around a quarter, meanwhile, are classed as disabled, and said to be three times more likely to be not in work or looking for employment.

Watch this space

Rest assured, as soon as any changes to health and disability benefits are announced, and the findings of the review are published, we’ll let you know all the details right here.

In the meantime, use our benefits calculator to make sure you’re getting all the support that you’re entitled to.