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Ministers have announced a series of major reforms to the benefit system, with Rishi Sunak claiming the UK has a “sick note culture”.
Last month, a £2.5bn ‘return to work plan’ was announced.. It aims to get 1.1 million people with long-term health conditions or disabilities back to work.
Part of this plan is Well done It aims to provide tailored support to people who are unemployed.
Announcing the pilot scheme, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:
“Too many people today are losing their jobs in spirals of illness, harming their economies, their futures, and ultimately their health, but with the right adjustments and support in the workplace, this can be avoided. You don’t have to get into a situation.
“So as part of our plan to stem the tide of economic inactivity, grow the economy and change people’s lives, we are launching a ground-breaking new service that for the first time brings together health and work advice at local level. We designed a WorkWell.
What is Workwell?
WellWork aims to provide individualized support to help individuals stay in or re-enter the workforce by managing their conditions and making adjustments at work.
The government says the pilot scheme will help individuals with health conditions return to work in 15 areas of England.
Areas where the new initiative will take place include Birmingham, Bristol, Cornwall, Coventry, Frimley, Great Manchester, South Yorkshire and parts of north London.
The initiatives, known as the WorkWell pilot, are scheduled to start in October and will connect around 59,000 people to community support services such as physiotherapy, counseling and employment advice.
You don’t have to be on benefits to access WorkWell.
The £64m initiative extends the Government’s wide-ranging reforms to the benefits system, with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) also set to be reviewed as part of the new consultation.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: ‘Too often people with disabilities or poor health are left out of work without any support.
“We have plans to change this and improve lives so that everyone has the opportunity to find fulfilling work. This service will support tens of thousands of people and will be tailored to their individual needs. You will receive joint work and health support.
“This service will build a healthier workforce and stronger economy, along with faster, simpler and more equitable health services.”
Will WorkWell change my fit notes?
As part of this new approach, the Government is launching a review of: match notes‘ are often ‘issued without any advice’ and lead to ‘missed opportunities for people to receive the appropriate support they need to continue working’.
The government said recently released NHS data showed around 11 million health cards were issued last year, and 94 per cent of them were signed off as ‘unfit for work’.
The WorkWell pilot focuses on areas with the highest number of people classified as ‘unfit for work’, with more than 334,000 health certificates issued in Birmingham and more than 191,000 in the greater Bristol area. .
Mr Sunak recently announced plans to overhaul the FitNote system to ensure employees are supported before they leave their jobs. The new approach will be integrated with his WorkWell initiative.
The government is rolling out ‘fit note pioneers’ in some pilot areas. These staff will work with people who request fit notes and direct them to local employment support services to help them keep their jobs.
Ministers argued that employment makes a significant contribution to improving well-being by reducing the risk of depression, improving physical health and promoting self-confidence and financial independence.
Will my benefits change with WorkWell?
A record number of people are now deemed unfit to work, with 2.8 million people defined as “economically inactive” due to long-term illness, according to official figures. There is.
In a speech last month, Mr Sunak said he was concerned about rising welfare costs in the UK and wanted to end the “sick note culture” to reduce this figure.
This suggests that the government wants to tighten rules around forcing people to quit their jobs to prevent people who might be able to work from joining the benefit scheme.
Other changes announced under the Return to Work Plan include expanding access to talk therapy on the NHS. Launch of universal support service that matches human resources and job openings. and the expansion of the Restart scheme to help people learn new skills.
Ministers are also accelerating the rollout of Universal Credit, with everyone set to scrap traditional benefits by 2026. They have introduced new restrictions which mean support will be cut off if someone does not try to find work for 12 months.