Following the consultation Shaping Future Support:
The Health and Disability Green Paper, this white paper sets
out proposals to help more disabled people and people with health
conditions to start, stay and succeed in work
Transforming Support: The
Health and Disability White Paper
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (): I would like to update Hon and Rt Hon Members on the
publication later today of Transforming Support: The Health
and Disability White Paper.
This White Paper is a significant milestone demonstrating this
Government’s commitment to ensuring disabled people and people
with health conditions can lead independent lives and fulfil
their potential. It sets out an ambitious policy reform package
that will transform the health and disability benefits system and
help disabled people and people with health conditions to start,
stay and succeed in work. This will help to deliver the Prime
Minister’s priority of growing the economy, creating better-paid
jobs and opportunity right across the country.
We set out our case for reform in Shaping Future Support: The
Health and Disability Green Paper, published in July 2021.
During the consultation, we heard from more than 4,500 people and
organisations on which proposals we should take forward. From the
responses, we know many disabled people want to work and could
work, with the right support. Our White Paper responds to those
views.
We are proud of our record on disability employment and support.
Last year, we surpassed our 2017 manifesto goal to see one
million more disabled people in work – delivering our manifesto
commitment five years earlier than expected. Our ambition remains
to close the disability employment gap, and I will set a new
disability employment goal.
The measures set out in this White Paper will build upon our
achievements, unlock new opportunities, and support people most
in need. With low unemployment and more than a million vacancies,
we are focused on ensuring more people are supported into the
workforce so that they can seize the opportunities of work and
employers can access the skills they need to grow their
businesses.
We will deliver action in these areas in three ways:
First, the Government will transform the future benefits system
so it focuses on what people can do, rather than on what they
cannot, including removing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
In our new system, there will be no need to be found to have
limited capability for work, or limited capability for work or
work-related activity, to receive additional income-related
support for a disability or health condition. We will introduce a
new Universal Credit health element that people receiving both
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit will be
entitled to, which will enable people to try work without the
fear of losing their benefits. We will also introduce a new
personalised approach to employment support and engagement, with
the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a
more independent life. We will give people confidence that they
will receive support, for as long as it is needed, regardless of
whether they are working.
Second, we will invest in our employment offer to help more
disabled people and people with health conditions start, stay and
succeed in work and contribute to a growing economy. Our research
shows that 20% of people with limited capability for work-related
activity (LCWRA) on Universal Credit, or who are in the
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Support Group, would like
to work at some point in the future. We are therefore investing
in additional work coach time and tailored support to help
disabled people to get the support they need to start work. We
will continue to work with employers and the occupational health
sector to help more people remain in work and reduce
health-related job loss.
Third, we will ensure that people can access the right support at
the right time and have a better overall experience when applying
for and receiving health and disability benefits. We are doing
this by testing new initiatives to make it easier to apply for
and receive health and disability benefits. This includes
extending the Enhanced Support Service, which offers support for
those who find it hardest to navigate the benefits system. We are
also testing a Severe Disability Group which means people with
the most severe health conditions can benefit from a simplified
process without needing to complete a detailed application form
or go through an assessment.
Our benefit reform proposals will take time to implement. They
will require primary legislation, which we would aim to take
forward in the next Parliament. These reforms would then be
rolled out, for new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis
from no earlier than 2026/27. We would expect the new claims
roll-out to be completed within three years (so by 2029 at the
earliest), when we would then begin to move the existing caseload
on to the new system.
Throughout and beyond the work of this White Paper, we will
continue to listen to, and work with, disabled people,
organisations, charities, and experts, to ensure the voices of
disabled people remain at the heart of delivering action.
I am certain that our White Paper reforms will support more
people to reach their full potential and reap the health and
wellbeing advantages of work.
