In a significant move to tackle economic inactivity, the government plans to deploy 1,000 existing Work Coaches in 2025/26 to provide intensive voluntary support to around 65,000 sick and disabled people.
This initiative aims to break down barriers to opportunity, drive growth, and unlock the benefits of work.
Work Coaches will offer personalised employment support, helping claimants with CV writing, interview techniques, and accessing various DWP employment programmes. This additional help will be delivered by reprioritising Work Coach time to focus on making the welfare system more sustainable.
Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:
“We inherited a broken welfare system that is failing sick and disabled people, is bad for the taxpayer, and holding the economy back.
“For too long, sick and disabled people have been told they can’t work, denied support, and locked out of jobs, with all the benefits that good work brings.
“But many sick and disabled people want and can work, with the right support. And we know that good work is good for people – for their living standards, for their mental and physical health, and for their ability to live independently.
“We’re determined to fix the broken benefits system as part of our Plan for Change by reforming the welfare system and delivering proper support to help people get into work and get on at work, so we can get Britain working and deliver our ambition of an 80% employment rate.”
This initiative is part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which aims to boost living standards and grow the economy by unlocking work for the 2.8 million people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness. The government expects to bring down spending on incapacity benefits, projected to reach £70 billion by the end of this parliament.
Recent survey results highlight the current system's shortcomings, with 44% of disabled people and those with health conditions believing the DWP does not provide enough support. The DWP Perceptions Survey also reveals a lack of trust in the DWP's ability to help people reach their full career potential.
Reforms to the welfare system are expected to be announced soon, aiming to restore trust and fairness. These reforms will address issues such as the fixed “can versus can’t work” divide and the lack of early intervention to prevent people from falling out of work.
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