Big Boost by UK Govt: More Job Support for Sick & Disabled People

The UK government has announced new measures to support thousands of sick and disabled people in finding work. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has outlined a plan to improve job opportunities through enhanced support at Jobcentres. These changes aim to make the welfare system more sustainable while addressing concerns that the current system fails to provide adequate support.

1,000 Work Coaches to Support Sick and Disabled Individuals

As part of the government’s Plan for Change, 1,000 Work Coaches will be redeployed in 2025/26 to assist around 65,000 people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. These coaches will offer tailored, voluntary employment support, helping individuals build confidence, improve their skills, and access various job-related programs.

Personalized Support for Job Seekers

The initiative will provide:

• One-on-one career guidance to help individuals overcome employment barriers.
• CV writing assistance and interview preparation to boost job prospects.
• Connections to DWP employment programs, ensuring better job opportunities.

This targeted support is expected to help sick and disabled individuals integrate into the workforce and benefit from stable employment.

Fixing a Broken Welfare System

The government recognizes that the current welfare system is failing both taxpayers and job seekers. A recent DWP Perceptions Survey found that:

• 44% of disabled individuals do not trust DWP to support them.
• 35% feel there is insufficient support to help them return to work.
• 39% do not believe DWP considers their needs when designing services.

These statistics highlight a lack of confidence in the welfare system, prompting the government to introduce reforms that promote fairness and accessibility.

Economic Benefits of Employment Support

The UK has 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long-term sickness, the highest number in the G7. By providing employment support, the government aims to:

• Reduce incapacity benefit costs, projected to reach £70 billion by the end of this Parliament.
• Improve living standards by helping people gain financial independence.
• Support economic growth by increasing workforce participation.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the new measures will empower individuals and restore trust in the welfare system. She emphasized that many sick and disabled people can and want to work if given the right support.

Upcoming Welfare Reforms

In the coming weeks, the government will unveil wide-ranging welfare reforms aimed at:

• Removing the rigid “can work” vs. “can’t work” divide, recognizing that job opportunities can be flexible.
• Providing early interventions to prevent people from falling out of work.
• Offering continuous support instead of leaving individuals with no guidance after assessments.
• Ensuring benefits do not discourage job-seeking, by addressing financial barriers to employment.

Additional Efforts to Reduce Economic Inactivity

The government has already taken steps to improve employment opportunities:

• Investing £26 billion in the NHS to reduce waiting lists, ensuring quicker access to healthcare and faster return to work.
• Recruiting 8,500 mental health workers to address psychological barriers to employment.
• Launching an independent review, led by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield, to explore ways businesses and the government can collaborate to keep people in work.

The UK government’s latest employment support plans aim to break barriers and offer better opportunities for sick and disabled individuals. With 1,000 Work Coaches, enhanced job assistance, and major welfare reforms on the way, the initiative seeks to restore trust in the system while boosting the economy.

By helping individuals gain meaningful employment, the government hopes to create a more inclusive and sustainable welfare system that benefits both job seekers and taxpayers.

Source

1. What is the UK government’s new employment support plan?

The UK government is deploying 1,000 Work Coaches in 2025 to provide personalized job assistance to sick and disabled individuals, helping them gain employment.

2. Who will benefit from this initiative?

Around 65,000 people with disabilities or long-term health conditions will receive employment support through this program.

3. How will Work Coaches help disabled job seekers?

Work Coaches will offer CV writing help, interview preparation, job search assistance, and connections to employment programs to improve job prospects.

4. Why is the government making these changes?

A recent survey showed low trust in the welfare system, prompting reforms to ensure better support and sustainability while helping individuals rejoin the workforce.

5. When will these changes take effect?

The 1,000 Work Coaches will be redeployed in 2025/26, with wider welfare reforms expected to be announced in the coming weeks.