Tag: Department for Work and Pensions

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 July 2026.

Opening today (Tuesday 7 July 2026) the six-week call for evidence will gather views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities.

• Carers, people with care needs and carers’ organisations encouraged to have their say on reforms to be made to the outdated system inherited from previous Government.
• Findings will inform work on the future modernisation of Carer’s Allowance.
• Comes after action taken to improve carers’ lives with the biggest ever boost to the earnings allowance.

Unpaid carers and their organisations are being invited to share their views on how to improve Carer’s Allowance, as part of the first major review of the benefit since it was first introduced half a century ago.

Issues with the Carer’s Allowance system inherited by the Government were laid bare in the landmark Sayce Review. This found unclear guidance on averaging fluctuating earnings left carers building up debts without realising, and that the earnings limit had failed to keep pace with modern working patterns.

The Government has already raised the weekly earnings limit to a record £204 a week, updated guidance, and taken decisive action to address the failures the Sayce Review identified. Carers can now earn around £10,000 a year while keeping their support.

This call for evidence goes further by looking at whether to introduce an earnings taper and changes to rules that cap how many hours a carer can work before losing their benefit, to reflect modern caring patterns.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities — quietly providing support that makes an enormous difference to the lives of those they love.

They deserve a system and level of support that properly reflects the contribution they make, and we are determined to deliver that.

This call for evidence is our commitment to going further — and to making sure carers’ voices shape every step of what comes next.

Earlier this year, the DWP launched a reassessment exercise reviewing 200,000 cases — with around 25,000 cases set to see debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded. New capital disregard regulations coming into force next week will ensure those refunds do not affect entitlement to Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:

We need to see further reform to Carer’s Allowance because the current system is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of caring today. This includes inflexible rules around the earnings limit which are hard to navigate for carers with fluctuating earnings and can dissuade some from claiming what they are entitled to altogether.

We welcome the government’s call to gather further evidence around this and its acknowledgement that Carer’s Allowance, which was first introduced 50 years ago, should be a priority for change to better support those who contribute so much to society. Caring is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and so it’s important that the government hears from as many people as possible on this topic in the next six weeks.

Carer’s Allowance has supported carers and their loved ones since 1976 — but it hasn’t kept pace with how people work today. This call for evidence is the next step in changing that.

Carers, their organisations, and anyone with experience of caring are encouraged to have their say before the call for evidence closes on 18 August 2026.

The evidence gathered will inform future changes the government makes to Carer’s Allowance – putting carers voices at the heart of the effort to build a benefit that is fair, modern and reliable for the people who depend on it most.

Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust said: 

This major review of Carer’s Allowance is something we, carers, and the 130+ local carer services in our network have long called for. It has been clear for some time that Carer’s Allowance needs to be modernised and brought into the twenty-first century. Society, work and caring have all been thoroughly transformed since Carer’s Allowance was first introduced in 1976, so it’s incredibly encouraging that the Government has recognised this and committed to creating a system that not only reflects these changes but also gives carers the support they really need. 

We look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure the voices of carers and the services dedicated to them are at the heart of any reforms to Carer’s Allowance. We want this review to be a real step change in the way carers are supported – paving the way for a fairer world for carers.

Additional information

• The call for evidence covers modern patterns of care that were not in place when Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976.
• Carer’s Allowance is available in England and Wales only, but views and experiences are sought from anyone in the UK.
• Carer’s Allowance is a devolved matter in Scotland. It has been fully replaced by the Scottish Government’s Carer Support Payment.
• Social security is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but the Department for Communities there maintains parity with DWP.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 July 2026.

More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament today.

• Residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation previously faced a “cliff edge” loss of income when increasing their working hours 
• New changes to the welfare system which encourage work and ensure it always pays come into force in October 
• Measure to benefit around 300,000 vulnerable claimants living in supported housing and temporary accommodation

More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament today [Monday 6 July]. 

The system inherited by this Government left vulnerable people in supported housing having to choose between staying out of work, or risk losing their housing support, because the work allowance was higher for Universal Credit than it was for Housing Benefit. 

 The less generous rules for Housing Benefit created a cliff edge that trapped people on benefits rather than supporting them into work. Some landlords even discouraged residents from taking jobs to protect their own rental income. 

As part of the Government’s commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, the regulations change how Housing Benefit is calculated so it works in the same way as Universal Credit – a change that will incentivise work for 315,000 people when they come into force in October 2026. 

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: 

The system we inherited was actively pushing some of the most vulnerable residents away from work rather than towards it. These changes fix that – ensuring residents can keep more of what they earn, so that taking a job or increasing hours always pays better than benefits.

This announcement delivers on a commitment made in our Autumn Budget, and forms part of the government’s wider plan to reform the welfare system – tearing out the barriers that have trapped people in dependency.

We are replacing that system with one that rewards work and ensures people keep more of what they earn, while protecting those who need it most.

Today’s rules come alongside previous steps to help people on disability benefits that want to work, into work. We have already rebalanced Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives that discouraged work and introduced Right to Try legislation, allowing sick or disabled people to try work without the immediate fear of reassessment.   

These measures come alongside our Connect to Work programme, which delivers tailored, personalised, local support that will help 300,000 people into work, and the deployment of 1000 Pathways to Work advisers to help those written off by the previous Government. 

Additional Information 

• The Housing Benefit (Earned Income Disregards) Regulations 2026 laid before parliament on 6th July 2026, come into force on 5 October 2026.  
• Five new earned income disregards are being introduced for working-age Housing Benefit claimants in supported housing and temporary accommodation.  
• Disregard values will be updated annually. No group is made worse off by this change; any variation in the immediate financial gain reflects how existing Universal Credit and Housing Benefit tapers already operate.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 3 July 2026.

Nearly 200 workplaces have signed up to be “Vanguards” preventing people dropping out of work due to ill-health, in a new milestone for the programme.

• Over 250 employers, 10 mayoral authorities and all 3 devolved administrations work with Sir Charlie Mayfield, reshaping how disability and ill-health are supported at work.
• Latest Keep Britain Working report shows shared responsibility and better data, supported by personalised plans will be key to helping people remain in work. 
• A new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit will track sickness absence, return-to-work outcomes and disability participation making workplace health performance visible for the first time.

They are among more than 250 employers, providers and organisations which have worked closely with former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review to help reshape how health and disability are supported such as through stay-in-work and return-to-work plans. 

Working with businesses big and small, the programme is building a new system that puts earlier workplace support at its heart in order to tackle one of the most urgent workforce challenges facing the country, with 2.8 million people being currently out of work due to long-term sickness. 

His report to Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden last year set out clear actions for employers to ensure people are getting the right support to successfully keep them in work and thriving. These are now being developed and tested in businesses, groups and mayoral authorities across the country. Since the beginning of the Keep Britain Working Review, there has been engagement with businesses and local government in every part of the UK. 

Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review & Co-Chair of the Keep Britain Working programme, said:

For too long, the system has been organised around supporting people after they get ill or face barriers. We need to shift the emphasis to earlier action, better integration, and a genuine, shared commitment to keeping people healthy and in work. What’s been striking is not just the quality of insight we’ve seen from vanguards, but the shared ambition and enthusiasm in regions and across such a wide range of employers.

It’s rare to find an opportunity that benefits employers, improves people’s life chances, and reduces government spending – all without large up-front investment. This is growth hiding in plain sight. Our work so far demonstrates this is all achievable and the benefits are significant.

Sir Charlie said employers must be ‘on the pitch’, engaging in employee health and well-being, measuring outcomes and developing ‘stay in work and return to work plans.’

The current vanguards demonstrate the benefits to work and health for employees, especially when providers make support more accessible and affordable. 

Work is underway on a ‘standard’ for employers who offer a certain level of workplace health provision, at a level which is affordable. 

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

The response from employers has been remarkable. Across every region and every sector, businesses want to do better by their workforce; they just need the right framework and the right support. 

Keep Britain Working is delivering both. A new national standard, better data, and real accountability. This is how we fix the broken system, keep people in work and grow our economy.

As a part of this, a new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit will be created, which will collect standardised data from employers and providers across the UK to increase dramatically the focus on prevention and to enable proactive steps to address emerging health issues

Currently, sickness absence is tracked inconsistently, and return-to-work outcomes are rarely measured. The Unit will enable benchmarking, drive improvement, and will give government a stronger evidence base. 

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said:

For too long, too many people have been handed fit notes without any extra support. What they really need is help to stay in work or get back to work safely.

A piece of paper that so often closes doors is no substitute for a plan that opens them. That’s why we’re shifting the focus from signing people off to helping them stay in work or return as soon as they are ready.

Good work is good for health. By helping employers step in earlier and work more closely with the NHS, we can help more people live healthier, more independent lives, ease pressure on the NHS and support economic growth.

Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

For too many disabled people and those with health conditions, barriers at work mean they miss out on the chance to thrive in their careers — and that’s something we’re determined to change.

These organisations are showing what’s possible when employers genuinely invest in their people. Healthy, inclusive workplaces aren’t just good for business — they make a real difference to people’s lives.

Thirty Vanguard organisations took part in intensive employer-led “sprints” – working with each other on best practice regarding prevention, staying in work, returning to work, and data gathering which can be adopted more widely

Seventy further organisations and ten regional workshops including small and medium sized businesses tested those findings, ensuring a broad coverage and input from across the UK. 

Following these sprints, the message from employers was consistent: we must focus on outcomes, not paperwork and process. The report sets out a clear emerging direction with the need to create: 

• Shared responsibility: where employers, employee, providers and government all have a role to play in delivering a new system which better supports people to remain in work successfully
• Better data: as the engine for change, driving accountability, market quality and long-term system improvement.

This progress sits within a £3.5 billion employment support package. WorkWell, backed by £259 million will support up to 250,000 people to stay in or return to work. Connect to Work will reach 300,000 sick or disabled people with tailored support. Over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers are already in place across Britain.

The government is also committed to further steps to bring about effective and sustainable reform, and this will be guided by the Milburn and Timms reviews, which are due to conclude later this year.

Phillippa O’Connor, Chief People Officer at PwC, commented on the Keep Britain Working Review:

Keeping people in work has to be at the heart of tackling economic inactivity. We’ve built a system that’s focussed on responding once people have left work rather than preventing them from leaving in the first place.

That’s what this review is starting to change and it’s great to see the momentum of more employers taking action.

Our experience in the ‘stay in work’ sprint shows that earlier, targeted interventions – backed by better data and well-supported line managers – can stop short-term sickness becoming long-term absence. Crucially, the success of stay in work plans depend on shared responsibility between employers and employees working together. 

The priority now is turning that insight into consistent practice across UK workplaces, by scaling what works and creating the right conditions for open conversations about health and wellbeing.” 

Alistair Cochrane, CEO Royal Mail said:

We know how important work is for people’s wellbeing, and how challenging it can be when health issues start to affect someone’s ability to stay in work.

At Royal Mail, there is a collective sense of purpose in helping colleagues remain in work wherever possible, with the right support in place. 

Being part of the Keep Britain Working programme allows us to play our part in developing better support, earlier interventions and more personalised approaches that help colleagues stay connected to work.

Diane Lightfoot, CEO, Business Disability Forum:

We were pleased to support Keep Britain Working’s disability inclusion sprint by facilitating stakeholder feedback workshops with some of the Vanguard employers. The workshops gave employers the opportunity to discuss the types of support they provide and the outcomes they would like to see for their employees around health and wellbeing in the workplace. It is good to see so many Business Disability Forum Members becoming Vanguard employers and engaging in this agenda.

Anne Hayes, Director of Standards Development, British Standards Institution, said: 

It’s incredibly positive to see that nearly 200 workplaces have signed up to be “Vanguards” preventing people dropping out of work due to ill-health. 

The role employers play in helping people stay in work should not be underestimated. Our recent report, The Value of Creating a Culture of Trust, found that the UK could be losing £9.9 billion in productivity each year because employees feel unable to speak openly about their health and wellbeing, and miss out on the support they need to continue to contribute. 

Nearly half of staff who are not confident raising health concerns with their employer have left a role or taken extended leave as a result.

At BSI we are proud to be partnering with the Mayfield Review to enable employers to help organisations create healthier working lives throughout every stage of employment, and ultimately build workplace cultures rooted in trust.

Emma Taylor, Tesco Chief People Officer, said:

We’ve long recognised that Tesco has an important role to play in supporting health and wellbeing at work. We want colleagues to feel supported and able to thrive, which is why we continue to invest in services that help them access advice and support when they need it, including our Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Virtual GP service. By making it easier for colleagues to seek help and address concerns early, we can support better health outcomes and help colleagues stay well in work.

Prevention is more effective than cure, but creating a truly preventative system requires employers, healthcare providers and government to work together. That’s why we’re proud to be a Vanguard Employer for Keep Britain Working and welcome the progress being made towards helping more people stay healthy and thrive in work.

Additional Information:

• Please see the second ‘Story so far’ report.
• The latest list of organisations who have expressed an interest in working with us in the Vanguard:

• The Regional Vanguards working with us are:

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 July 2026.

More than 650 young people from across Brighton and the wider local area descended on the world-famous Brighton Centre to meet with some of the region’s best-known employers yesterday.

• Over 650 young people attended Brighton’s first ever youth jobs fair – part of the government’s Youth Guarantee – held at the Brighton Centre. 
• The event brought young people face to face with more than 50 employers and training providers including Mace Construction, JD Sports and Gatwick Airport Employers and saw more than 200 job interviews secured. 
• Youth Guarantee Jobs Fairs are part of wider youth employment support, backed by £2.5 billion which will ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn.  

“Launch Your Future” was Brighton’s first ever youth jobs fair to be hosted as part of the Youth Guarantee, the government’s scheme to ensure every young person is either earning or learning.  

Young jobseekers were given rare, direct access to a huge range of employment and training opportunities, all brought together under one roof. With employers including Pure Gym, Gatwick Airport Employers and more offering sector specific advice.  

Employers and training providers provided jobseekers with details of the hundreds of open vacancies and apprenticeships opportunities with more than 200 interviews scheduled, including second stage interviews. 

Sessions provided young jobseekers with a chance to discuss and ask for advice on AI tools to support job searching, the apprenticeship assessment process, CV and interview advice and an introduction to Movement to Work placements.  

Alongside this, DWP advice desks shared tailored support for individuals on job searching, live vacancies, apprenticeship opportunities, support with childcare costs and more. 

Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: 

Brighton’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair showed exactly what this government’s youth employment drive is all about – creating opportunity and bringing young people face to face with employers.  

Young jobseekers have been shown what the next step in their career journey could be – and in some cases will have left with a job offer.  

I’m delighted so many local employers are choosing to back our Youth Guarantee, and we will keep going further so we can ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn.

Before the event, young jobseekers received specialised group information sessions to help them get the most out of meeting employers face-to-face. 

They also received hands-on advice covering everything from filling in applications to preparing for interviews – giving them the skills and confidence they need to take their first step into the world of work. 

Yesterday’s jobs fair forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling youth unemployment and ensuring young people can access the opportunities available in their local area.  

By bringing together jobseekers from across the region alongside a broad range of employers the event has helped create lasting pathways into sustainable employment for young people across Brighton and the southeast. 

Yesterday’s event reinforces the Government’s commitment that all young people under the age of 25 should be offered one of the following high-quality pathways:  

• employment  
• continued education  
• an apprenticeship  
• a traineeship, work experience placement or Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) 

Additional Information:

Over 50 employers and providers from across Brighton and the southeast attended the jobs fair, including: DWP FSF Desk / Success Desk 

• The Latest 
• Arundel Care Services 
• Play9 LTD 
• Disability Services Access To Work 
• Home Instead 
• Churchill Services  
• Ansacare 
• PACEY 
• The Gym Group 
• National Careers Service 
• BHCC HR team (Cheryl )  
• Rybka Fish and Chips 
• DWP WEX Desk 
• Castle Accommodation Ltd 
• Quint Education 
• All Care Ltd 
• Brighton Palace Pier  
• Bright Horizons Nursery  
• FEDCAP 
• BHAFC ( stewarding)  
• B&M 
• JD Sports  
• C&C Healthcare 
• The Grace Eyre Foundation 
• Gatwick Airport employers 
• Murder Actually 
• GBR Met 
• Concordia  
• Aldridge Adult Learning 
• Tungsten Training 
• Brighton Probation  
• Guild Care Limited 
• Red Skye Personnell Ltd 
• PureGym 
• Nandos (Brighton and Horsham) 
• Plumpton College (inclusive of One Garden) 
• Brighton & Hove Education Academy  
• Creative Process (courses and apprenticeships) 
• Sodexo 
• Sussex Police 
• South Downs Leisure 
• WSCC (West Sussex CC) Connect 2 Work 
• Mace Construction 
• ATW Cargo 
• Oxfam 
• Brighton Youth Hub 
• Dnata 
• Brighter Horizons Training 
• Lindfield Coffee 
• DWP Apprenticeship Matching Desk 
• Queen Victoria Hospital 
• The Talent People 
• Movement to Work 
• Andy Taylor Foundation 
• Randstad 
• Creative Futures 
• DWP Job Matching Desk 
• DWP Job Matching Desk 
• DWP Upfront Childcare Desk 
• DWP Armed Forces Desk

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 July 2026.

Reforms to the Motability scheme come into force today saving taxpayers £1 billion by 2030 while protecting disabled people’s access to cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs.

• Reforms to the Motability scheme to ensure fairness for taxpayer, whilst still supporting disabled people’s mobility, come into force today.
• New tax rules on Motability car leases due to save taxpayers £1 billion by 2030.
• Follows removal of luxury vehicles – including BMW and Mercedes – from the scheme after the Budget.

VAT will now apply to advance payments – the optional one-off top-up paid by customers who choose a more expensive vehicle – and Insurance Premium Tax will apply to new leases.

Both changes were announced at the Autumn Budget and are part of a wider package of welfare reforms set to save nearly £2 billion by the end of the decade.

The scheme was set up to help disabled people stay mobile and independent, and these changes ensure it continues to do exactly that, while delivering genuine value for taxpayers.

Disabled people on enhanced mobility benefits will continue to receive their full award of £77.05 per week and remain eligible for the scheme, with vehicles still available that require no advance payment, meaning people can access a car using their benefit alone.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden MP said:

Today’s changes are driven by the fairness that underpins this Government – fairness for the taxpayer, fairness for disabled people, and fairness for the country.

We’re saving £1 billion of taxpayer money by removing VAT relief from some new Motability leases, whilst ensuring the scheme still supports disabled people’s mobility and independence.

We’re building a fair welfare system and an economy that works for everyone.

The reforms are part of a wider government drive to fix the broken welfare system it inherited, including:

• Introducing a Right to Try Work Guarantee to give everyone who can work the chance to do so.
• Investing £3.5 billion in tailored employment support for sick or disabled people.
• Increasing face-to-face assessments for health benefits
• Tackling fraud and error in the benefit system, saving £14.6 billion over this parliament
• Rebalancing Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives which push people away from work.

Today’s changes follow action taken immediately after the Budget to remove luxury vehicles – including BMW and Mercedes – from the scheme, returning Motability to its original purpose of giving disabled people access to a practical vehicles, and not subsidising premium extras that go beyond what most people in this country can afford.

Additional information

• These changes do not apply to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.
• The core Motability package remains in place: eligible disabled people continue to access a vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair, with insurance for up to three drivers, UK breakdown cover and maintenance.
• There is no change to existing leases and no change to eligibility for PIP or the Motability scheme.
• The Motability Foundation continues to offer means-tested grants to support people who would otherwise struggle to afford an advance payment, adaptations or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 29 June 2026.

All face-to-face and telephone health assessments for disability and sickness benefits will be audio recorded as standard from today to improve transparency in the benefit system.

• Health assessments for disability and sickness benefits to be automatically audio recorded as standard.
• The change moves from an opt-in system – used by fewer than 3% of claimants – to opt-out as the default.
• Recordings to be used to improve assessment quality and improve transparency.

The change means that claimants undergoing assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will have their assessment automatically recorded, unless they choose to opt out.

The move marks a significant shift from the previous opt-in system, under which claimants had to request a recording themselves. Despite being offered the option through invitation letters and assessment supplier websites, fewer than 3 percent of claimants took up the offer.

The new policy will improve public trust in the health assessment process through greater transparency. Recordings will also be used as a learning tool to identify potential improvements to assessment quality and will be made available to claimants who wish to appeal their initial benefit award.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

Improving transparency and trust in the benefits system is one of this government’s key aims, which is why we’re making this important change.

Audio recording health assessments as standard will mean we are available to make improvements and increase assessment quality, resulting in a better experience for claimants.

Feedback from disabled people, the organisations that represent them and disability-focused research has found that some disabled people who claim health and disability benefits lack trust in the health assessment process.

The policy delivers on a commitment first made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in March 2025, which set out the government’s intention to make recording standard practice across assessments.

Written reports will still be used as part of the decision-making process, with audio recordings providing a more accurate record should that be required.

Today’s announcement comes alongside the government’s wider work to improve people’s experience of, and trust in, the benefits system. That includes delivering on our commitment to increase face-to-face assessments from 12 percent to 30 percent, which fell sharply under the previous government, as well as employing nearly 500 additional staff to clear the inherited Access to Work backlog.

Additional Information:

• Claimants who do not wish to have their assessment recorded may opt out.
• The Pathways to Work Green Paper was published on 18 March 2025.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 June 2026.

Up to 40,000 disabled people and people with health conditions will benefit from expanded access to personalised support, as the government rolls out Support Conversations across a further 27 Jobcentres taking the total number of sites to 33.

• Support Conversations expanding to a further 27 Jobcentres across Great Britain, bringing the total to 33 sites.
• Disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits are being offered a one-to-one, voluntary, hour-long conversation to discuss their support needs and identify extra help. This support is personalised and could link people to help with their health, debt, skills, employment and housing.
• Part of the government’s wider £3.5 billion investment to help disabled people and those with health conditions into work over the Parliament.

Support Conversations are voluntary, hour-long sessions designed to help people identify and overcome the barriers stopping them from moving into work or into meaningful activity (such as volunteering) and is part of the commitment the Government made in last year’s Pathways to Work Green Paper

Unlike standard Jobcentre appointments, Support Conversations take a holistic approach, covering not just employment, but housing, debt, skills, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. Support Conversations are delivered by Healthcare Professionals, Pathways to Work Advisers, and Disability Employment Advisers, and are available face to face, by video, or by telephone.

They are open to those who are awaiting a Work Capability Assessment and people furthest away from the labour market – assessed as having Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA). 

These are people who for too long were written off and denied support. But the government’s expansion of Support Conversations is giving people they help they need and builds on the landmark deployment of 1,000 Pathways to Work Advisers, who have already helped more than 65,000 sick and disabled people get one step closer to work.

Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson said: 

Too many disabled people and people with health conditions face barriers that stop them from accessing the support and opportunities they deserve. 

That is why we are expanding the number of sites delivering Support Conversations from 6 to 33 Jobcentres across Great Britain, giving up to 40,000 people personalised help tailored to their circumstances. 

Getting more people into good work is central to our Plan for Change and Support Conversations will help us do exactly this.

This expansion builds on testing already live in six sites where support conversations are being delivered by healthcare professionals and disability employment advisers. Early testing indicates customers feeling “listened to” and “supported.”

Neil, a Disability Employment Adviser in Bournemouth said: 

Support Conversations are a great opportunity to spend an hour focused on the claimant and their needs. 

We all know that many people face a whole range of challenges which need to be overcome as part of their individual journey back to work and talking through those challenges with a DEA is an important first step.

Support Conversations confirm that the most valuable resource we have is the time that we spend with our claimants.

Saimha, a Healthcare Professional in Preston said: 

Support Conversation is about providing compassionate, informed, holistic, person-centred support to disabled people and those with health conditions. Every interaction is an opportunity to make someone feel heard, safe, and supported.

Every person’s health journey is unique and support conversation is an opportunity to identify the range of barriers people are facing in their day to day life and signposting them to the relevant services that can help, encouraging people to take positive steps towards improving their lives.

This expansion forms part of the government’s Pathways to Work offer and its broader £3.5 billion employment support package, which includes:

• Connect to Work, which delivers tailored, personalised, local support that will help 300,000 people into work by the end of this parliament.
• The national expansion of WorkWell, backed by £259mn, helping up to 250,000 people with health conditions to stay in or return to work.
• Allowing sick or disabled people to try work without the immediate fear of reassessment through the Right to Try.
• The deployment of 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers who’ve already helped tens of thousands of people the previous Government wrote off.

The government will continue to test the success of Support Conversations through healthcare professionals and disability employment advisors as part of this expansion, with Pathways to Work Advisers also carrying out these Support Conversations for the first time. 27 sites have been confirmed so far, with a further six sites to be confirmed shortly.

The expansion directly supports the government’s Plan for Change and its mission to raise living standards across the UK by helping more people into work and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Additional Information:

• Support Conversations are currently offered to people awaiting a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) who have registered a health condition or disability that impacts their ability to work and those assessed as having Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
• The conversations are entirely voluntary.
• List of confirmed sites (note 6 further sites to be confirmed shortly):

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 June 2026.

• Thousands of young people across the country are set to receive employment, education or training support as almost 180 new Youth Hub locations are confirmed.
• Areas including Inverclyde, St Albans and Cardiff will see new hubs open in local sports clubs, libraries and other venues at the heart of the community– bringing support out of the jobcentre to meet young people where they are.
• Youth Hubs are central to the Government’s once-in-a-generation drive to tackle youth unemployment, backed by £2.5 billion investment.

Thousands of young people across Great Britain will benefit from access to expanded employment and wrap-around support services as the locations of almost 180 new Youth Hubs are confirmed this morning [15 June 2026].

The rollout forms part of a national expansion of Youth Hubs to over 360 areas with the aim that a young person is no more than one hour away from a Youth Hub by public transport.

This will ensure that vital support, delivered in the community, is available to even more young people, making local support services accessible, no matter where they live.

From football clubs to colleges and libraries, the hubs bring together local mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities as well as careers guidance and work opportunities with links to local employers with live job and apprenticeship opportunities.

Confirmation of the next wave of Youth Hubs came shortly after Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited a youth point – the Dutch equivalent of Youth Hubs – during a fact-finding trip to the Netherlands, which has one of the world’s lowest NEET rates.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

We want to make sure young people are getting real, personalised support, that’s not one size fits all. I’ve seen how it can change lives.

Our Youth Hubs have over the past two years pioneered this approach – bringing job centre services together with mental health support, housing advice and more.

I want to turbocharge this rollout so that every young person has this support within reach that can help them move into learning or earning.

Yesterday the Work and Pensions Secretary visited the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub, located in the Feldy Community Centre, where he met young people who are currently receiving personalised guidance to allow them to move into employment and training. The Secretary of State heard from young people who have already been helped by the Hub, and how the range of support offered will be central to them moving forward.

Tanzeem Ahmed, Assistant Director of Employment and Training at Poplar HARCA, said:

We’re proud to launch the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub at the Feldy Centre in Poplar this June, supporting local young people to move into work, training or volunteering.

This welcoming, community-based space brings together personalised support – from CV writing and job applications to accredited training and wellbeing advice – helping young people build confidence and skills.

By working with partners like Jobcentre Plus, we’re removing barriers and creating clear, positive pathways into employment for local young people.

Since opening in May 2026, The Tower Hamlets Youth Hub has established itself as an exemplary Youth Hub, working with local stakeholder and partners to ensure a joined-up approach, bringing together access to mental health, wellbeing, employment and skills support for local young people.

Over the next three years, the Government is expanding its network of Youth Hubs to over 360 local areas across Great Britain. This will connect every 16-to-24-year-old across the country and provide themreal opportunities in their local area, ensuring each person has access to high-quality, wide-ranging support to move towards learning or earning.

Our new Youth Hubs will meet young people where they are, in football stadiums and community venues across Britain, giving them access to housing support, mental health help and a clear pathway into work or training, exactly as Alan Milburn recommended.

Youth Hubs are a key part of the £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and come alongside changes to the Growth and Skills Levy which aim to refocus the skills system towards people at the start of their working life.

The government is also supporting businesses to hire young workers with a Youth Jobs Grant worth £3,000 for every 18- to 24-year-old hired who has been on Universal Credit for six months, while a £2,000 apprenticeship incentive is available for each new employee aged 16 to 24 taken on by a small business.

Ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn through the government’s Youth Guarantee and turning the tide on the nation’s high NEET rate is essential to driving the nation’s plan for growth.

Additional information

The DWP will now work with local authorities and partner organisations to identify the best locations for the hubs.

Youth Hubs may open ahead of the roll out schedule detailed below subject to local readiness.

Hubs opened in Year One (since announcement in March 2026):

England

Wandsworth, Stockton-on-Tees, Bromley, Bracknell Forest, Guildford, Swindon, Crawley, Reigate and Banstead, Sefton, West Berkshire, Derby, Tower Hamlets, Thanet, Knowsley, Leicester.

Scotland

South Lanarkshire

Wales

Carmarthenshire (Llanelli), Rhondda Cynon Taf, Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly.

Hubs scheduled to open in Year Two :

England:

Norwich, East Suffolk, Cannock Chase, Greenwich, Ashford, North Northamptonshire, East Staffordshire, Thurrock, North East Derbyshire, Rother, North Devon, Harlow, Maidstone, Lincoln, Bedford, Torridge, Chorley, Milton Keynes, Arun, North Warwickshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Dartford, Breckland, Gedling, East Riding of Yorkshire, High Peak, North Norfolk, South Holland, South Ribble, Somerset, North Somerset, Stevenage, Havering, Slough, Fylde, Melton, West Northamptonshire, Castle Point, Teignbridge, Stafford, Lancaster, South Derbyshire, Canterbury, South Kesteven, Lewes, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire East, Braintree, West Lancashire, Mid Devon, Colchester, North West Leicestershire, Redbridge, Hillingdon, Broxtowe, Bexley, Dacorum, Wychavon, Camden, Malvern Hills, South Staffordshire, Reading, Watford, North Yorkshire, Sutton, Southwark, Dorset, Rugby, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Tewkesbury, Merton, Kensington and Chelsea, Forest of Dean, Broxbourne.

Scotland

Angus, Inverclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Highland, East Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Moray

Wales Vale of Glamorgan, Flintshire, Cardiff, Powys, Monmouthshire, Gwynedd

Hubs Schedules for Year Three:

England

Lichfield, New Forest, Hinckley and Bosworth, Rushmoor, West Suffolk, Hertsmere, Central Bedfordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, North Kesteven, Cheltenham, Adur, Rochford, Wiltshire, South Norfolk, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Huntingdonshire, Test Valley, Bromsgrove, Tonbridge and Malling, North Hertfordshire, Wealden, Welwyn Hatfield, Tunbridge Wells, Cherwell, East Devon, Mid Suffolk, Oadby and Wigston, Fareham, Broadland, Sevenoaks, York, Maldon, Exeter, Derbyshire Dales, Charnwood, Blaby, Vale of White Horse, Stroud, West Devon, Babergh, South Gloucestershire, Harrow, Bath and North East Somerset, East Cambridgeshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, West Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Epsom and Ewell, South Hams, Epping Forest, Chichester, Warwick, Runnymede, Tandridge, Winchester, Brentwood, Harborough, Three Rivers, East Hampshire, St Albans, Cotswold, Horsham, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, Rushcliffe, East Hertfordshire, Mid Sussex, Ribble Valley, South Oxfordshire, Wokingham, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Uttlesford, Hart, Rutland, Waverley, City of London.

Scotland

Stirling, City of Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Wales

Ceredigion