New support to help sick and disabled people into work

Sick and disabled people are to be given extra support to help them find work.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to redeploy 1,000 work coaches to give “tailored and personalised” employment support.

This will be targeted towards people on health-related benefits and help them with areas such as interview techniques and writing CVs.

Liz Kendall, the work and pension secretary, said: “Many sick and disabled people want and can work, with the right support.

“And we know that good work is good for people - for their living standards, for their mental and physical health, and for their ability to live independently.”

However, Ms Kendall said that “for too long”, sick and disabled people have been told they can’t work, not given the right support and “locked out” of jobs.

Sick and disabled people want more help

According to a DWP poll of sick and disabled people:

• 44% don’t believe the DWP gives enough support to people who don’t work because of a sickness or disability
• 35% think the DWP could do more to help unemployed people of working age find jobs

Figures also show that 3.1m working age people are on the health element of universal credit or claiming employment support allowance.

That’s an increase of 319% since the pandemic.

Welfare reforms set to be announced

Ministers are set to announce reforms to the welfare system in the next few weeks.

The government has also launched an independent review into helping sick and disabled people find jobs and stay in work.

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

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

Watch this space

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.