The UK Government recently published the Health and Disability White Paper, which lays out proposed reforms to the benefits system. As part of its shake-up, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans to end the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to encourage people who need to claim benefits back into work.
It’s important to keep in mind that these planned changes in the White Paper are proposals and will be debated in Parliament before coming into force in 2026/27. WCAs currently provide decisions on whether a person is fit for work for the purpose of their Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit allowance.
Under the new proposals, instead of undergoing a WCA, the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would be used to decide whether a person will receive the new Universal Credit health element. Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove MP, shared more details about the proposed new package of measures.
In a written response to Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Ashworth MP, who asked if further details would be published, Mr Pursglove said: “As a result of the Government’s review of workforce participation, the Department is introducing a package of measures to address economic inactivity and the barriers preventing people from joining the workforce.
“Universal Support is a supported employment programme which will support inactive disabled people, people with health conditions and people with additional barriers to employment, into sustained work.
“Eligible people will be able to opt in to receive up to 12 months of ‘place and train’ support - helping them initially to move quickly into suitable work, followed with wraparound support to help them to sustain that employment for the longer-term.”
He continued: “Universal Support will include help for the individual to address issues like debt, manage their health condition and help employers to put in place job shaping or other adjustments to accommodate the individual’s needs. Pioneer areas are mobilising an expansion of supported employment services in 2023. Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) will provide supported employment in 30 local authorities.”
The DWP Minister also said that starting from 2024, national Universal Support will begin, supporting at least 50,000 people a year from 2025/26. He added: “In developing Universal Support, the department will engage with a wide range of key stakeholders, including the representatives of local areas, employers, providers and experts in the delivery of ‘place and train’ support.”
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