DWP announces new support for 100,000 sick and disabled people every year

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed plans to provide personalised support, including one-on-one employment guidance and skills enhancement, to up to 100,000 sick and disabled individuals per year to aid their job search.

West London is the first of 47 areas across England and Wales chosen to receive dedicated five-year funding. This initiative aims to assist disabled individuals, those with health conditions, and others requiring additional support to secure employment.

The DWP's 'Connect to Work' programme, designed to help those facing significant barriers to work, will be rolled out over the next five years. A consortium of Local Authorities will receive a total of £42.8 million to provide targeted assistance to approximately 3,500 people annually, reports .

The DWP outlined three primary focus areas to achieve this goal:

• providing essential skills training to help people get into and on at work
• working with employers to recruit and retain disabled workers
• matching people with job opportunities that suit their needs and circumstances

West London is set to receive nearly £9m of the £115m funding already pledged for the programme's first year. This initial investment forms part of their full five-year deal, enabling local leaders to promptly address inactivity in their area.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall expressed her support for the new initiative, stating: "As part of our Plan for Change we are fixing the broken welfare system - getting more people into work, putting more money in people's pockets, and putting the benefits bill on a sustainable footing.

"The welfare system we inherited has shut too many talented people out of the workplace - with no support, no prospects, and no opportunities.

"We are changing this. That's why I'm delighted to see our Connect to Work programme kick off, with over £40 million of funding so local leaders in West London can give people in their area the tools they need to get in and on at work in a way that's right for them."

David Francis, Director of West London Alliance, also welcomed the initiative, saying: "This programme provides vital and tailored support to those facing challenges in the labour market, helping them to secure sustainable employment and build better lives.

"The Connect to Work Programme represents one of several initiatives aimed at achieving the government's objective of achieving an 80 per cent employment rate."

The Get Britain Working initiative is gaining momentum, with South Yorkshire becoming the first of nine 'inactivity trailblazers' around the country to roll out community-driven employment support projects. This comes as the UK Government announces sweeping welfare reforms, backed by an unprecedented £1 billion, aimed at providing tailored job support for those dealing with illness or disability.

The objective is to 'open doors to opportunity, give people a chance at financial independence, and boost living standards,' as detailed in Labour's Plan for Change.

The DWP reveals that ill-health has left 2.8 million people out of work in England and Wales, one of the highest rates among the G7 nations.