According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are approximately 4.8 million disabled people across the UK in employment.
This is a rise of 1.3 million since 2017, and delivers on the UK Government's goal of seeing one million more disabled people in work before 2027. After the release of the figures, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed a £1.3 billion investment over three years into employment support for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.
In October, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Jonathan Ashworth requested information about how the money will be spent. In response, former DWP minister Claire Coutinho stated that Work Coach support would increase across the UK for people with disabilities or health conditions claiming Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
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As reported by the Daily Record, in a written response on October 26, Ms Coutinho stated: “This government is committed to helping disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay, and succeed in work.
“The £1.3 billion will fund the right support in the right place to meet each individual’s needs, with an increased focus on upstream intervention to promote retention and engagement when people fall out of work.”
She added: “This comprises Jobcentre Plus delivered employment support and provision, rolling out successful trials through health and social care settings and working with employers and stakeholders to support people to remain in work.
“Within Jobcentres, on top of existing activity, we’re increasing Work Coach support across England, Scotland and Wales for people with health conditions receiving Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance.
“This will enable disabled people to access employment and wider skills support, and our employment programmes earlier. We have begun to offer this support in one-third of Jobcentres and will roll out wider from 2023.”
The minister explained that the DWP will continue to work alongside the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to improve work and health outcomes, stating: “This includes expanding employment support within NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services to the whole of England over this spending review period.
“We will deliver on measures to minimise the risk of ill health related job loss, as set out in the response to the DWP/DHSC consultation Health is Everyone’s Business.
“We continue to work with small businesses to support them, including delivering a national information and advice service for employers, providing better integrated and tailored guidance on managing health and disability in the workplace.”
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