Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP has shared new details on how the Labour Government plans to support more disabled people and those with health conditions into work, ahead of the publication of the ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper which is due to be published this Autumn. Ms McGovern explained how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including disabled Universal Credit claimants”.
In a written response to Independent MP Ian Byrne, who asked what steps are being taken to “improve employment support for disabled Universal Credit claimants”, the DWP Minister said: “As part of the get Britain working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.”
She continued: “Good quality work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. We want people to avoid poverty, and for this to happen we must ensure that disabled people and people with health conditions have the opportunity to work and save for as long as they wish and are able to.”
The DWP Minister highlighted how disabled people and people with health conditions are a “diverse group who need access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time”.
She added: “We have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including disabled Universal Credit claimants.”
These measures include:
- Support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres
- Access to Work grants and the Work and Health Programme
- Joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care
Ms McGovern also said that employers will play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, “to thrive as part of the workforce”.
Support for employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.