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Early figures from the government’s “flagship” employment support programme show that about one in eight disabled people who have begun receiving out-of-work assistance through the scheme has reached its lower “threshold” for paid work. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) […]
Three new pieces of research published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have cast fresh doubt on whether ministers will be able to move more disabled people into work by providing them with more intensive employment support. The reports […]
One of the Labour government’s key disability employment programmes could prove to be a “positive” step forward, but its implementation has been “more challenging than expected”, a committee of MPs has concluded. Connect to Work was launched in October 2024, and […]
The government’s Access to Work scheme is plagued by multiple failings, including lengthy delays – which risk disabled people losing their jobs – poor communication, and an inaccessible process, a committee of MPs has concluded. The Commons public accounts committee found […]
The government is facing serious questions over the success of a key employment support scheme, after its own research showed the NHS organisations running its pilot projects fell far short of their targets for recruiting disabled people. Ministers frequently point to […]
The government included a bill to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in yesterday’s king’s speech, but it also signalled a delay to any plans for further cuts to disability benefits. The education for all bill follows the […]
The government appears to be gearing up for fresh cuts and “radical” reforms that will increase the pressure on young disabled people to move off out-of-work disability benefits. Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden this week delivered a speech (pictured) that […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now telling disabled people who need support through the Access to Work scheme that it could take 37 weeks to make a decision on their application, senior civil servants have told MPs. They […]
Ministers are facing questions over why the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is using a strict screening process to filter out potential recruits with health conditions, while repeatedly complaining that too many disabled and older people are not in jobs. […]
The government’s own social security advisers have warned a minister he may need to do more to “shift entrenched concerns” among disabled claimants that they could lose their disability benefits if they take steps towards paid work. The social security advisory […]