Govt to pilot additional schemes for ESA claimants

clock • 2 min read

The government has announced pilot schemes to get more disabled people and people with long term medical conditions into employment.

The proposals are part of the government's response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee's report on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

Psychological Wellbeing and Work pilots have been launched to help those with mental conditions return to work.

Further pilots will begin in early 2015 in areas with the most ESA claimants, where those awaiting a WCA will have access to a "work coach" following completion of the work programme and there will be tests of occupational health advice for work coaches as well as support for those with back pain.

Also in early 2015 a new "claimant commitment" will come in for ESA claimants as part of the Universal Credit scheme in a single Jobcentre Plus district, with those awaiting a WCA, those who have had a WCA and those who have completed their involvement in the work programme.

The claimant commitment will lay out work related requirements including looking for work as a "full time activity" with obligations and sanctions clearly laid out.

Those on Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) will be able to remain on it rather than switch to ESA if they are sick for less than 13 weeks.

There are also plans for putting an end to claimants being paid the ESA assessment rate after being found fit to work if they put in a repeat claim without having a change in their medical condition.

Under the proposal the claimant would be able to claim JSA but not ESA while the claim and any appeals were under consideration.

In the foreword to the report Mark Harper MP, minister of state for disabled people said: "Whilst improving the WCA is important, we need to do more to support those with disabilities and health conditions to stay in or return to work.

"Work is almost always good for health and most disabled people and people with health conditions can and want to work, provided they have the right support."

He added: "However, it is not sustainable for large numbers of people to remain on incapacity benefits when better support could help them return to work.

"As the economy continues to improve we must support disabled people and people with health conditions who are currently out of work to find employment wherever possible. Equally importantly, we need to prevent people needlessly falling out of work."

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