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Disability benefit assessments will be reformed to encourage more people with mental health conditions into employment under Government plans announced on Tuesday.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has announced a new consultation around how benefit assessments can be changed in the short term to make it easier for people with certain conditions can work.
He said specifically people with mental health conditions will be pushed into employment under plans to reform the way welfare assessments would work.
He said the increase in flexible and home working had “brought new opportunities for disabled people to manage their conditions”.
This, and a better understanding of mental health conditions and neurodiversity among employers, could make it easier for people to find working conditions that suit them, he added.
The Government previously published reforms to the health and disability benefits system which will see the “Work Capability Assessment” – which assesses whether someone is fit enough to work – scrapped.
But Mr Stride said he was launching a consultation to change the assessment process in the meantime.
“The scale of our reforms means it will take time to implement, but there are changes we can make more quickly that will also make a difference,” Mr Stride said.
“So before the White Paper reforms come in, I want to make sure that the Work Capability Assessment – the way we assess how someone’s health limits their ability to work and therefore what support they need – is delivering the right outcomes and supporting those most in need.
“Today, my Department is launching a consultation on measures to ensure that those who can work are given the right support and opportunities to move off benefits and towards the jobs market.”