West London has become the first area in the country to get funding to support people signed off work sick back into jobs as sweeping cuts to benefits loom.
An almost £43million cash injection will help disabled people in Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow into employment over the next five years, the Department of Work and Pensions said.
It is part of the Government’s “Connect to Work” programme, which aims to support 100,000 people per year in England and Wales into employment and off welfare.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall visited the Shaw Trust in Shepherd's Bush, which will benefit from the funding, on Wednesday to meet people already helped into work.
The significant cuts to benefits have been criticised by charities and health campaigners. More than 230,000 disabled people are expected to lose access to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the incapacity element of universal credit as a result of the changes.
It could mean that many will be at least £8,100 a year worse off, Policy in Practice estimated. Nearly 600,000 more people who do not claim universal credit will lose or not qualify for PIP in future, the consultancy warned.
But Ms Kendall insisted that while the severely disabled, or those going through periods when they cannot work, “will be protected”, the “truth is... there are hundreds of thousands of people who, with the right help and support, could work, and that's what our reforms are going to change”.
She told the Standard: “Actually, what a lot of people were speaking about today was the confidence to take the plunge, but also having employers who can provide the flexible working that many people with health conditions have, because for so many people today, their health condition fluctuates.
“And what the Shaw Trust here is doing is bringing all of that support together, working with employers to support them, working with the individual who needs work to make sure they have the confidence, the skills, the interview techniques, the CVs, above all, that they have a sense of belief in themselves.
“That they they can work with them with the right support. And that is what's so inspiring about what they're doing here today, and with [£43million] for West London to provide the support here to more people, I think will have a real, real impact.”
The eligibility criteria for PIP is set to be tightened from November 2026. It means it will become harder to qualify for the daily living component of the benefit, which starts at £72.65 a week.
Bill Beardon said he was almost forced to leave his caretaking job at Harrow Council after almost 40 years when he became unwell.
After taking several months of sick due to complications from Covid, he was put in touch with a “social prescriber” from the Shaw Trust who helped him negotiate changes at work to accommodate his illness.
He said: “You don’t want to find yourself unemployed and on benefits for the first time at 59. There should be more awareness about the help out there for people in work and struggling with illness.
“Without the accommodations that were made to support me I would not have been able to continue working.”
The West London boroughs are the first of 47 areas across England and Wales set to receive five years of funding aimed at helping disabled people into work.
A total of £42.8milion will provide targeted help up to 3,500 people by matching people with job opportunities that suit their needs, providing training and working with employers to recruit disabled workers.
It follows the £1billion employment support package, announced by Work and Pensions Secretary last month, which the Government said will be used to “unlock work for sick and disabled people, encourage financial independence, and boost living standards”.
David Francis, Director of West London Alliance, said: "The West London Alliance Boroughs are proud to be at the forefront of the ‘Connect to Work’ initiative, demonstrating the strength of our partnerships and our dedication to improving employment outcomes for West London residents.
“This programme provides vital and tailored support to those facing challenges in the labour market, helping them to secure sustainable employment and build better lives.”
