The Health Foundation responds to the Pathways to Work Green Paper
Responding to today's Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper published by the Department for Work and Pensions, David Finch, Assistant Director at the Health Foundation, said:
'Today's Pathways to Work Green Paper includes some welcome measures that will rebalance the benefits system to support people to stay in work, but cuts to disability benefits risk undermining this new approach.
‘Providing more support when people first leave work and realigning incentives to help people back to work is an important step forward. So, we are pleased to see that the Green Paper takes forward several recommendations aligned with the Health Foundation’s Commission for Healthier Working Lives, which launched its final report, Action for healthier working lives, last week.
‘Introducing a new contribution-based unemployment insurance benefit and replacing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) with a 'support conversation' could provide more people with early financial and practical help to return to work.
‘Additionally, the 'right to try' guarantee – allowing people on health-related benefits to try working without fear of having their benefits reassessed – will encourage more people to re-enter the workforce.
‘However, cutting benefit entitlements by reforming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility and reducing entitlements for new Universal Credit health claims will leave vulnerable people worse off and risks making it harder for people with health conditions to move into work.
‘The government has stated that it aims to restore trust in the benefits system, but this will be challenging with proposed cuts to benefits that will leave many people facing anxiety, financial insecurity and at risk of worsening health.’
Media contact
Jessica Clinkett
jessica.clinkett@health.org.uk
020 7664 4647