Disability claimants need better job opportunities from employers so that around a million people can move into work, campaigners have said

DWP PIP claimants call for better job opportunities ahead of benefits shake-up

by · Birmingham Live

Disability benefit claimants including those on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) want the DWP and employers to provide better access to job opportunities. The call for a change in attitudes and flexibility comes ahead of a huge overhaul of the welfare system in 2025.

Campaigners have told political commentators who are demanding urgent action to cut the welfare bill that many people on disability and incapacity benefits do want to work but are stopped from doing so by barriers from employers. The DWP is set to address the issues with its Get Britain Working white paper later this year and a benefits shake-up due in the spring.

Labour plans to replace or reform the work capability assessment (WCA) that is used to determine if Universal Credit claimants must get a job or are signed off for health reasons. Those who can't work are given additional financial support of £416 a month for 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' (LCWRA). Previously-proposed changes to the WCA would mean only those already receiving PIP would be exempt from working but it's not known yet if the new government will stick to this approach.

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PIP itself isn't means-tested and can be claimed regardless of income or savings though only 14 per cent of recipients are working and researchers have suggested many apply for it to boost their household income on top of Universal Credit. Advocates say many more disabled people would move into employment if the right support was there.

James Taylor, executive director of strategy and social change at disability equality charity Scope, said: "Huge numbers of disabled people are unable to afford the basics to have a decent standard of living, even with benefits. On top of this many disabled people are pushing hard for jobs. There are a million disabled people in the UK who want to work but are denied the opportunity because of employers' negative attitudes, delays getting the right support and inflexible working practices."

The DWP is to carry out a survey of what people need their PIP to pay for ahead of any potential reforms as the Chancellor warned of upcoming "savings" through the social security shake-up. In the meantime it's been confirmed that most benefits, including PIP and Disability Living Allowance, are to rise by 1.7 per cent from next April in line with inflation.

Labour has already unveiled a £240 million cash injection to help people back into work and reduce inactivity. The announcement came as figures showed the UK remains the only G7 country that has higher levels of economic inactivity now than before the pandemic, with 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness.

The funding will partly go towards boosting the rollout of Get Britain Working trailblazers in local areas, which will bring together and streamline work, health, and skills support to disabled people and those who are long-term sick. These trailblazers will focus on reaching people who are not normally in touch with the system, by enabling local areas to help them access existing support in skills, education, employment, or health but also testing new early interventions targeted at the specific barriers they are facing to work.

Recognising that poor health is a key driver of economic inactivity, these trailblazers will also ensure work and skills support is better integrated with the health service, to ensure people get the joined-up health and employment support they need to get back into work and stay in work. The government will also work in close partnership with mayors to develop these trailblazers, to ensure these local services are tailored to meet the unique employment and inactivity challenges in different areas.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Due to years of economic neglect, the benefits bill is ballooning. We will build a Britain where people who can work, will work, turning the page on the recent rise in economic inactivity and decline and towards a future where people have good jobs and our benefits bill is under control."

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Millions of people have been denied the opportunity to build a better life. This includes one-in-eight young people who have had their hopes of a brighter future dashed and written off before they’ve even begun.

"Through our Get Britain Working plan, we will ensure every young person is supported to find earnings or learning, while our new jobs and careers service will transform opportunity for all, as we deliver the fundamental reforms needed to tackle spiralling inactivity, grow the economy, and take our first steps to our ambitious 80 per cent employment rate."

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