The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said the UK Government believes there is a “strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain” in order to help people find and stay in work. Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, Sir Stephen Timms, also said the DWP is “working to develop proposals for reform” and will set them out in a consultation due to be published in a Green Paper this Spring.
Disability benefits administered and delivered by the DWP include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. Sir Stephen gave the written response earlier this week after Labour MP Matt Bishop asked what steps the DWP is taking to make sure that “planned reforms to the disability benefit system ensure security and support for seriously ill and disabled people”.
Sir Stephen explained how the DWP wants to “engage with disabled people, and others with expertise and experience on these issues, to consider how to address these challenges and build a better system”.
The DWP Minister continued: “We are working to develop proposals for reform and will set them out for consultation and engagement in a Green Paper in spring 2025. This government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.”
It’s important to be aware that no details of the proposals have been released yet.
The DWP recently announced that people with back, joint, and muscle issues living in areas with the worst waiting lists for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are to be treated quicker and supported back into employment as part of the UK Government’s new ‘Get Britain Working’ white paper.
The latest figures from the DWP show that at the end of October, more than 1.1 million people in England and Wales were receiving PIP (PIP) of up to £737.20 each month in additional financial support for MSK conditions.
As part of the Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity – where someone is out of work and not looking for work – 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England will share part of a £3.5 million package to improve MSK services.
The new plans will not be implemented in Scotland.
The funding will see each area in England and Wales receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity, and is part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change which will “put more money into people’s pockets and get the NHS back on its feet”.
The MSK Community Delivery Programme will be administered through NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and will give ICBs the resources and leadership to develop more efficient ways of getting MSK patients treated, off waiting lists and back onto the path of employment.
Speaking in November, Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, said: “For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working. It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.
“This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”
The UK Government says there are 2.8m people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23%) – said MSK was their primary condition.
Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4m working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.