7 February 2005 - Johnson announces start of new regime for long term IB claimants
Radical back to work help will be extended to people who have been on Incapacity Benefit (IB) for up to three years, Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.
The successful Pathways to Work pilots, which include more frequent mandatory interviews and have previously focused on new claimants, will be extended to those who have been on the benefit for a long period of time.
Already 1 in 10 people taking part in Pathways to Work are long term IB claimants who have volunteered after hearing about the job support and health advice on offer. This group is doing especially well, accounting for up 1 in 5 of those who have moved into work through the scheme.
Speaking at the IPPR conference “Fit for Purpose – Welfare to work and Incapacity Benefit”, Alan Johnson said:
“The longer people remain on Incapacity Benefit, the more barriers they face and the harder it is to get back to work. People are already banging on the door asking for more support and today we are extending the scheme that is getting twice as many people off welfare and back into work.“
The extension of help to long term IB claimants includes:
- A new £20 a week Job Preparation Premium to encourage steps towards getting a job.
- Compulsory work-focused interviews with specially trained Personal Advisers.
- Access to NHS rehabilitation support or other employment programmes.
- A £40-a-week Return to Work Credit when they get a job.
Mr Johnson added:
“Our investment in Jobcentre Plus and Pathways to Work is already paying off with more people returning to work. The UK today has the lowest level of unemployment for 30 years and the numbers on Incapacity Benefit have actually fallen over the last two quarters.”
Notes for editors
- The speech made by the Secretary of State at the IPPR conference is available from DWP National Press Office.
- The extension to existing IB customers will be in the seven original Pathways to Work areas: Renfrewshire, Bridgend Rhondaa Cynon & Taff, Derbyshire (started in October 03), Essex, Somerset, East Lancashire and Gateshead & South Tyneside (started April 04).
- Pathways to Work pilots offer early, sustained support to involve Jobcentre Plus, the NHS and the voluntary sector to support people with health conditions and disabilities.
- The Pathways to Work pilots include:
- Support from a highly skilled personal adviser support and contact every month in the first 8 months of the claim when people can be most readily be helped
- Groundbreaking NHS rehabilitation support so that they can help claimants manage and cope with their health condition (e.g. back pain, angina, mental illness) before it becomes a barrier to work
- Strong local partnerships with the New Deal for Disabled People - voluntary and private sector employment advisers
- £40 a week return to work credit once they get a job so that it always pays to get back to work
- Work with local GPs and employers to ensure people on IB are not discouraged from working again
- The Pathways pilots have so far included new IB claimants and existing claimants who volunteered to participate.
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