Tag: Department for Work and Pensions

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 April 2024.

Reforms to occupational health services will be shaped through a £1.5m innovation fund, through Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), as the government continues its drive to tackle in work sickness and boost economic activity using new technology and artificial intelligence.

• Five projects to share £1.5 million funding to boost occupational health services for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Artificial intelligence and new technology at heart of revolution including expansion of remote services, digital health hubs, and Long Covid support.
• New support comes as inactivity due to long term sickness increases by 735,000 since the pandemic
• Occupational health reforms part of Government’s plan reduce economic inactivity by helping thousands more stay and succeed in work

Five projects will receive a share of this funding to develop new and innovative ways to improve occupational health services which will eventually be scaled-up and made available to small businesses to help them support their employees to stay in work.

One successful company, Kinseed Limited, is developing a revolutionary cloud-based occupational health platform aimed at offering employers’ powerful new tools to help maintain and improve employee health and wellbeing.

Their new service “MediWork” is breaking ground with AI and uses data to monitor individual health trends and identifies early warning signs of ill health. It will tailor suggestions to improve workplace wellbeing, and help clinicians do their job more effectively and quickly than before.

The new technology developed through the Fund will help unlock opportunities to improve people’s work and wellbeing as the government boosts health and employment support to drive down inactivity.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

Time off work due to sickness costs British business £100 billion every year. The innovative solutions developed through this funding will benefit businesses as we harness AI and technology to support a healthier and more productive workforce.

Delivering through our Back to Work Plan and Occupational Health Taskforce, we are driving down inactivity and helping people reach their potential both in work and their daily lives.

Pal Bhusate, Chief Executive Officer at Kinseed Limited, added:

We’re very excited to be working with cutting edge technology in AI and Cloud systems to keep people healthy and safe at work – and this fund has been absolutely critical in helping us do precisely that.

Supporting small and medium businesses in these areas is the only way that industries like ours can rapidly adapt to and get value from these incredible developments – and it’s brilliant to see such positive and active support from government to encourage that agility and innovation.

Before the pandemic, inactivity in the UK had fallen by over 850,000 and while it currently remains lower than G7, EU and OECD averages, many people including those from younger generations are out of work due to long term sickness, in large part been driven by mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

With long-term sickness now the main reason people of working-age give for being economically inactive, occupational health services can help employers provide in work support to manage their employees’ health conditions and reduce the number of those becoming inactive.

However, only 45% of workers in Britain have access to some form of occupational health, with an estimated 1.8 million workers reporting work-related ill health in 2022/23. That’s why the government is working with companies to develop new technology to better understand employee health, provide tailored support and tackle long-term sickness to help people stay and succeed in work.

We’ve introduced reforms to address this through the government’s new WorkWell service and £2.3 billion in extra mental health funding a year in England to ensure people can reach their potential and get the support they need to reap the financial, mental and physical benefits being in work has to offer.

The Occupational Health Innovation Fund and new Occupational Health Taskforce builds on this, and the government’s £2.5bn Back to Work Plan will support over a million people including those with mental health conditions to break down barriers to finding and staying work through the use of NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support, Restart and Universal Support programmes.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP, commented:

Every year many thousands of people take time off work – or leave work altogether – because of ill health. But at the same time, there are millions of people who are working with health conditions, often supported by occupational health services.

We want more people to be able to benefit from occupational health support, particularly people working in smaller businesses or those who are self-employed. That’s why we’re investing in these innovative approaches to occupational health. This sits alongside our plans for WorkWell which will help people access support to stay in work, and our fit note reforms.

A healthy economy depends on a healthy workforce. Making sure people can be healthy and stay in work is crucial for individuals, businesses and our country as a whole.

Another organisation, Armour Labs Limited, is building a digital health hub for SME’s and the self-employed to reduce the cost of access to occupational health services.

They will partner with digital healthcare providers and merge these services into health plans for UK employees which they can access through an online portal and future mobile app to help make Occupational Health support more accessible and efficient than ever.

Aleezay Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Armour Labs Ltd, added:

Armour Labs is building the digital marketplace for employers to procure and deploy Occupational Health services that cater to their workforce’s diverse and individual needs.

Through the support of this Fund, we are now in the process of testing and rolling out our solution in the market which we expect will make Occupational Health not only more accessible and affordable for businesses, but also reduce ill health related absenteeism by 30%.

In February, the government launched a new Occupational Health Taskforce, led by Dame Carol Black, to improve employer awareness of the benefits of Occupational Health in the workplace.

The Taskforce is developing an occupational health framework to help businesses prevent sickness-related job loss and support employees returning to work after illness. The voluntary framework is expected to be published this summer.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 10 April 2024.

Parents on Universal Credit can now receive up to £1,311 more a year in childcare support following a 6.7% boost coming into effect, as the government’s expansion of free childcare for working parents delivers 150,000 places in a week.

• Parents receiving Universal Credit to receive significant boost to childcare support.
• Increased support means parents who are keen to get back to work can now claim up to £109 more a month to help cover childcare costs.
• Comes as government hits its target of ensuring 150,000 children gain childcare places from the new rollout.

As of Monday 8 April, parents on Universal Credit with one child under 17 will be able to claim up to £1,015 a month, with parents of two children or more eligible for up to £1,739 to help pay for childcare costs – up from £950 and £1,630 respectively.

The increase in support will help even more parents into work at a time when vacancies remain high, wages are rising faster than inflation, and taxes are being cut for 29 million hardworking people.

The announcement comes as part of a huge package of support for working parents, including the expansion of 15 hours of free childcare a week for eligible working parents of two-year-olds for the first time.

Over 150,000 two-year-olds are confirmed to have places for 15 hours a week of free childcare as of Friday, surpassing the take-up expectation set for early April. Thousands more places will continue to be secured over the coming weeks.

Up to 85% of childcare costs of parents on Universal Credit are covered thanks to support from the Department for Work and Pensions, which has increased since last summer by £368 for parents of one child, and £631 for parents with two or more.

The announcement is part of the government’s long-term plan to give working families a brighter future, by ensuring the cost of childcare is no longer a barrier for parents who want to work.

Helping parents into work is one of the best ways to drive down the number of children living in poverty, as children living in workless households are over six times more likely to be in absolute poverty than children in a house where all the adults work.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

This big boost to childcare support will help even more parents step into the world of work and secure long-term financial security.

We are delivering on our plan to get people into jobs, as we cut taxes, drive down inflation, and put money back into the pockets of hardworking families.

When fully rolled out, eligible working parents, including those on Universal Credit, will receive 30 hours of free childcare from the end of maternity leave to when their child starts school. Parents taking up the full 30 hours will save an average of £6,900 per year on childcare costs.

We are taking significant steps to ensure the childcare sector is prepared to deliver this rollout, including a £100 million capital investment for more places, much higher average government funding rates than the average market rates paid by parents for the new entitlements, and a significant national recruitment campaign and £1000 cash incentive for new joiners to the sector.

In 2024-25 alone, we expect to provide over £1.7 billion to support local authorities and providers deliver the expansion to the early years entitlements.

On top of this, almost half a million families are set to benefit from our changes to the High-Income Child Benefit Charge, taking 170,000 families out of paying the High-Income Child Benefit Charge altogether with families gaining an average of £1,260 from these changes.

This includes raising the threshold for the High-Income Child Benefit Charge from £50,000 to £60,000 as well as halving the rate so that it is not paid in full until an individual earns over £80,000. We will also end the unfairness for single earner families by moving towards a household system.

As well  this boost for parents, the £2.5bn Back to Work plan will help over a million long term unemployed, sick and disabled people break down barriers to work, with the Chance to work Guarantee freeing up claimants to try work with no fear of losing their benefits.

This comes alongside the huge amount of support offered by Jobcentres to people of all backgrounds. From upskilling, interview support and finding apprenticeships, whether you’re looking for a new career or just starting in the world of work, Jobcentres across the country can give you the tools you need to start, stay and succeed in work.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 10 April 2024.

A group who stole over £50 million of taxpayers’ money has been brought to justice in the largest ever benefit fraud case in England and Wales.

• Five people who stole £53.9 million through fabricated benefit claims have been brought to justice in England and Wales’ largest benefit fraud case
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigators, working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), caught the fraudsters after extensive investigation
• Convictions come as the DWP saved at least £18 billion in 2022/23

Five people have pleaded guilty to numerous charges involving creating false Universal Credit claims worth £53,901,959.82.

DWP investigators worked to track and catch the fraudsters, gathering extensive evidence of false tenancy agreements and shell companies created to show false employment claims, including counterfeit payslips and GP notes. The group also created many false identity documents.

The courts will now proceed with sentencing the defendants as the DWP and CPS work to recover the money stolen.

Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

I am immensely proud of DWP investigators’ work, in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service, to take down this organised crime group.

Building on our success in preventing £18 billion going into the wrong hands in 2022/23, these convictions underline our commitment to protecting taxpayers’ money. It is only right and fair that we bring those stealing from the public purse to justice.

Minister responsible for tackling benefit fraud, Paul Maynard MP, added:

Our investigators are working tirelessly to catch benefit cheats and this case builds upon our plan to save £1.3 billion on fraud and error.

At the same time, our Fraud Plan will help us implement a long-term strategy to minimise fraud and error and ensure value and fairness for the taxpayer.

Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said:

This case is the largest benefit fraud prosecution ever brought to the courts in England and Wales.

This was a complex and challenging case which required close and effective working between CPS prosecutors, the Department for Work and Pensions and our international partners in both Bulgaria and through the UK desk at Eurojust, to dismantle and successfully prosecute the organised crime group. The guilty pleas entered by all five defendants, reflects the strength of the evidence against them.

The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division will now pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants, to remove from them any available criminal benefit from this enterprise.

The defendants who have pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court were: Galina Nikolova, 38; Stoyan Stoyanov, 27; Tsvetka Todorova, 52, Gyunesh Ali, 33, and Patritsia Paneva, 26. All defendants are of Bulgarian nationality.

The defendants laundered money from the false benefit claims and sent incriminating WhatsApp messages that shared forged documents.

Investigators also found “claim packs” at the houses of defendants, which were created for others to make false benefit claims and included false documents such as bank statements, fake photographic identification, and forged information on dependants.

Additional items seized included bundles of cash stuffed into shopping bags and suitcases, designer goods such as watches, jackets and glasses, and a luxury car.

This latest case comes as the government continues to turn the tide on benefit cheats. DWP’s Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System plan, backed by £900 million over three years, bolsters the counter-fraud frontline with measures including trained specialists to review millions of Universal Credit claims.

This counter fraud clampdown, together with wider benefit checks and controls, saved at least £18 billion in 2022/23 and saw fraud and error fall by 10 percent.

DWP is now pushing to go further with a target to save the taxpayer £1.3 billion through counter fraud and error in 2023/24.

Additional Information:

• In 2022, the DWP launched a plan to further tackle fraud and error in the benefits system. The Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System plan, backed by £900 million over three years, bolsters the counter-fraud frontline with measures including trained specialists to review millions of Universal Credit claims.
• The Government is legislating for new fraud powers. These will allow the DWP to request data from third parties, such as banks, that could show signals of potential benefit fraud and error.
• The Third-Party Data amendment DWP have included in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Data Protection and Digital Information Bill will modernise and strengthen DWP’s powers to tackle the evolving threat of fraud in the digital age.
• The new powers that the Government is legislating for will not allow DWP to access bank accounts, or see how benefit claimants spend their money, as third parties will only provide the minimum amount of information required.
• DWP will only receive information on cases where potential fraud or error has been flagged and will save the taxpayer up to £600million over the next five years.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 9 April 2024.

Half a million people claiming old benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit, unlocking all the work support it offers.

• Expansion of move to Universal Credit will help 500,000 more people unlock the employment support on offer.
• Letters will be sent to people on certain benefits notifying them of the action they need to take.
• People on Universal Credit are more likely to have a job within six months of making a claim.

More than 130,000 people have already successfully switched from tax credits to the modern digital Universal Credit system which allows claimants to access their benefits more easily and amend their claim should their circumstances change.

The expansion this year will continue for people claiming:

• Income Support and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit from April
• Housing Benefit only from June
• ESA (Income Based) with Child Tax Credit from July
• Tax Credits (Pension Aged including mixed aged couples) from August
• JSA (Income Based) from September

Universal Credit helps people move closer to work and greater financial security through a range of support – including training placements and upskilling – as well as tailored support from a dedicated Work Coach.

Recent findings have shown Universal Credit claimants are more likely to be in work within six months of making a claim.

The move comes as the DWP’s £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan is set to help over a million people, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions to break down barriers to work.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP said:

Universal Credit is a proven benefits system fit for the modern age.

With even more people moving to Universal Credit, we can continue to provide the best level of support for people to secure financial independence through work.

I would encourage all those who receive their Migration Notices to take action to ensure they continue to receive the benefits they are entitled to.

By moving to Universal Credit, benefit claimants, including those with limited work requirements, will be able to access to a range of employment support.

We know one in five people currently on the highest tier of incapacity benefits with no work preparation requirement, would like to work in the future with the right support. We’re helping them do this not just though Universal Credit, but with specialist employment support, record levels of mental health provision and the Chance to Work Guarantee, meaning millions can try work free from the fear that they could lose their benefits.

Recent data shows working age adults living in workless households are around seven times more likely to be in absolute poverty than those in households where all adults work, while children living in workless households are six times more likely than those where all adults work.

Benefit claimants will not lose out financially when moving to Universal Credit. Where an individual’s entitlement to Universal Credit is lower than their legacy benefit entitlement, they will be entitled to a top-up payment known as Transitional Protection. This ensures that their Universal Credit is the same as their legacy benefit entitlement.

People will soon start to receive letters – known as Migration Notices – asking them to move to Universal Credit. Recipients who don’t act within three months risk losing their current benefit entitlements.

Additional support is available through a dedicated helpline for claimants who receive a Migration Notices, via face-to-face support in local Jobcentres and independent support through Help to Claim, delivered by Citizens Advice while extensions can be arranged for those who need more time to make a claim.

Paul from Ashington is one of thousands of claimants who has already successfully made the move and benefited from the support provided to help make the move.

Paul said:

I was so worried about having to move to Universal Credit, because I thought I would be pushed into a job search I didn’t feel comfortable or ready for. The move has been made easy because of the support and help I received from my Work Coach, Pauline.

Moving to Universal Credit has been so much easier than I expected. I’ve been able to keep on top of my payments and I’m now closer than ever to finding work!

The expansion of Universal Credit comes as part of the Government’s plan to make sure work always pays, with a huge boost to the National Living Wage and tax cuts worth an average of £900 for 29 million hardworking people.

Additional Information

• Migration Notices will be issued to all legacy benefit types, apart from ESA claimants, over the next six months.
• Evidence to date shows that most Tax Credit claimants have been able to claim Universal Credit without the need for additional support.
• Since the resumption of Managed Migration some claimants have naturally moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances and claimants have always been able to make a claim for Universal Credit if they wish to do so.
• The DWP has recently launched a Move to UC advertising campaign to notify legacy benefit claimants of the need to make a claim to Universal Credit which includes print, radio, and online advertising.
• Claimants can claim Universal Credit directly online or via the dedicated Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for free on 0800 169 0328 or by visiting your local jobcentre. Claimants that require more time to claim can also call DWP for free on 0800 169 0328.
• For claimants requiring additional support to complete their application support is available including through Citizens Advice Help to Claim for those living in England or Wales and Citizens Advice Scotland Help to Claim for those living in Scotland, which delivers step by step support to complete a UC claim.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 9 April 2024.

The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent today as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

• Millions of pensioners set to benefit from 8.5 percent increase to the State Pension today
• In one of the largest ever cash increase will mean pensioners will receive an extra £900 a year on the full rate of the new State Pension
• Universal Credit and other working-age benefits to see a 6.7 percent rise, while Government slashes National Insurance to help make work pay
• Comes as the Government has provided support worth an average £3,800 support households between 2022-25

The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent today as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

It comes on the heels of the highest ever cash increase to State Pension in history of 10.1 percent last year, plus a package of support for pensioners this winter worth nearly £5 billion.

Underlining the Government’s commitment to backing Britain’s pensioners, this means pensioners receiving the full new State Pension will get an extra £900 a year from today. The full yearly basic State Pension will also be £3,700 more than in 2010, while the full rate of the new State Pension will be over £11,500 a year.

This commitment centres around offering dignity and security to those who have worked hard all their lives and deserve support at a stage when they may be unable to grow their income through work. The Triple Locked State Pension remains a cornerstone of this commitment, as it is only right and fair that pensioners incomes are protected.

Pension Credit, a passport benefit to provide additional support for low-income pensioners, will also see a significant rise, with the average award worth over £3,900. The DWP is also increasing Local Housing Allowance rates, putting £800 back in the pockets of over 1.5 million recipients of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

This unprecedented support has all been made possible because we are sticking to the plan and our economy has turned a corner– enabling people the opportunity to build a financially secure life for themselves and their family.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

Thanks to the Triple Lock and our efforts to drive down inflation, we are putting money back in the pockets of pensioners. This is only possible because we have stuck to our plan and our economy has turned a corner.

This will make a meaningful difference to all those who rely on the State Pension and ensure we continue to provide a safety net for those who need it most while making work pay wherever possible.

Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard MP said:

It’s only right that after a lifetime of work that we protect our pensioners’ incomes.

Our sustained commitment to the Triple Lock demonstrates our determination to continue to combat pensioner poverty, and to ensure that the State Pension will continue to provide the foundation of income in retirement so many need.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

We are continuing to protect those in need through boosting benefits by 6.7% and providing the largest cost of living support package in Europe.

The welfare system will always be there for people who need it, but work is the best way to secure long-term financial security and our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will help even more people secure employment.

At the same time we are making work pay through generous tax cuts and the rise in the National Living Wage.

To ensure the most vulnerable are also supported, from today those on Universal Credit will see a 6.7 percent increase to ensure a genuine safety net whilst the Government supports their move towards financial independence through work. This 6.7 percent rise extends to other DWP benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance, among others.

In cash terms this means an additional £470 for the 5.5 million households on Universal Credit with over 19 million families across Britain benefiting from uprating, including working parents who can now receive up to £20,800 a year in childcare support.

The Government’s drive to support the most vulnerable has helped reduce absolute poverty by 1.1 million individuals compared to 2010 with over 200,000 pensioners being lifted out of poverty since 2010 after housing costs are taken into account. With inflation more than halved and forecast to reduce further, it is right that we help people back into work and grow the economy, while continuing to provide support to those who need it most.

That is why the Government has provided support worth an average £3,800 for vulnerable households between 2022-25 and is injecting £2.5 billion as part of the Back to Work Plan to help people with disabilities, health conditions, or who are long-term unemployed find and stay in work.

Alongside this, the Government is making work pay for workers and the economy: rewarding work by slashing National Insurance contributions for employed and the self-employed by a third since the autumn and putting £900 back in the pockets of the average hard-working employee. Taken together, this means the equivalent of 200,000 more people in work – filling one in five vacancies and adding 0.4% to GDP and 0.4% to GDP per head, according to the OBR.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 March 2024.

Plans to boost economic activity while supporting vulnerable people with the cost of living will be driven through by Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, as the Government unveiled its Budget for Long Term Growth.

• Household Support Fund extended with £500 million of support for the most vulnerable households
• Equivalent of 200,000 more in employment following welfare reforms and tax cuts to make work pay
• “Additional Jobcentre Support” to be rolled out to 150 sites alongside unprecedented £104 billion cost of living package

Following the next generation of welfare reforms announced last Autumn – including the flagship £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan – more people will be rewarded for hard work with cuts to National Insurance worth £900 for the average employee this year.

We have already delivered on our plan to halve inflation, which is down to 4% from its peak of 11% thanks to the steps taken by this Government. As inflation continues to fall, millions of families will also benefit from extra support with the cost of living – helping deliver the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.

The Household Support Fund – first introduced in October 2021 – will be extended for a fourth time. The extension, backed by £500 million, will support the most vulnerable households.

Alongside the continued cost of living support, jobseekers will be encouraged to secure long-term financial security through work following the extension of the Additional Jobcentre Support pilot.

The pilot will be expanded to a further 30 sites – reaching 150 in total – and will deliver intensive support so more people can secure the physical, mental, and financial benefits work brings.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

Work is the best way to secure long-term financial security, which is why in this Budget the Government is rewarding hard work with more tax cuts, boosting growth and helping families with the challenges they’re facing.

The long-term decisions announced by the Chancellor will put £900 back in the pockets of 27 million employees this year and support the equivalent of 200,000 people into work, when taken together with the next generation of welfare reforms we’re already rolling out.

This was also a Budget that recognised some people are still struggling and the extension of the Household Support Fund will give vulnerable households the help they need.

Our plan is building a brighter future for millions of people.

To support households from falling into debt the Government is taking decisive action to ensure claimants retain more of the money they receive from Universal Credit.

Almost one million households on Universal Credit take out budgeting advance loans. These provide families with a vital source of funds to purchase one-off items like fridges and other expensive items.

To help make these repayments more affordable we will be increasing the repayment period for new loans from 12 months to 24 months.

The measures announced in the Spring Budget build on the next generation of welfare reforms the Secretary of State ushered in last autumn. The plans offer unprecedented employment and health support to help over a million people, while protecting those in most need from cost of living pressures – including raising pensions and benefits and more help with housing costs.

While unemployment has been almost halved since 2010, our £2.5 billion Back to Work plan will help thousands of people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and the long-term unemployed, to move into jobs. This comes alongside the Government’s Chance to Work Guarantee, so that claimants on incapacity benefits can try work without fear of losing their benefits.

The extension of the Household Support Fund comes on top of the £104 billion cost of living support package:

• Boosting the state pension by 8.5% from April for over 12 million pensioners, an extra £900 next year for a pensioner on the new State Pension
• Increasing benefits by 6.7% from April
• Increasing the Local Housing Allowance from April, worth an average gain of £800 a year

The Government has also announced several significant pension fund reforms as part of the Value for Money framework. These will benefit both savers and British business, led by new requirements for Defined Contribution pension funds to publicly disclose their level of investment in the UK.

The Government will also undertake further analysis and research on the viability of a lifetime provider model, which could move individuals to having just one workplace pension pot across their career.

Additional Information

1. £500m of additional funding enables the extension of the Household Support Fund, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means that Local Authorities in England will receive an additional £421m to support those in need locally through the Household Support Fund.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 February 2024.

A bold new government-backed review has set out a vision for workplace culture changes to support autistic people to start and stay in work.

• Review sets out 19 recommendations to support more autistic people to start, stay and succeed in work.
• Despite most autistic people wanting to work, just 3 in 10 are currently in employment due to stigma and lack of understanding of their needs.
• More neuro-inclusivity in the workplace can help fill vacancies and grow the economy by unlocking the potential of thousands more people.

A bold new government-backed review has set out a vision for workplace culture changes to support autistic people to start and stay in work.

DWP figures show only around 30 percent of working age autistic people are in employment, compared with half of all disabled people and 8 in 10 non-disabled people, despite the majority saying they would like to be employed.

Commissioned by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride and led by Sir Robert Buckland KC, the Review’s 19 recommendations for businesses and government include:

• signing up for the Autistica Neurodiversity Employers Index to access guidance on designing inclusive processes and procedures
• encouraging career progression by developing packages of training focused on autistic staff
• improving recruitment by ensuring careers advisers can provide appropriate advice to autistic jobseekers
• supporting autistic people who are already in the workplace by producing “autism design guides” to create appropriate premises, furnishings and equipment
• working with software suppliers to develop IT systems that meet autistic people’s needs.

The Buckland Review of Autism Employment was supported by charity Autistica and includes the views of hundreds of employers and autistic people.

It sets out how businesses and government can work together over the next five years – whether that is showcasing the successes of autism employment, developing pilot programmes in national and multinational companies, or providing tailored support for autistic staff at work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

I want autistic people to have every opportunity to benefit from work, and recognise that businesses and government must come together if we are to create the cultural change needed to move the dial.

Backed by the extra employment support provided through our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan, this report provides employers with practical and inexpensive steps to open up workplaces to autistic people, boost employment rates and, above all, change autistic people’s lives.

Sir Robert Buckland KC MP said:

It has been a tremendous privilege to compile this report, and to hear from hundreds of autistic people about their experiences. This is all about them, and we couldn’t have done it without their help.

The review can make a truly radical difference to the lives of autistic people and their families. I call on employers and government to lead this change and make these recommendations a reality.

It is all part of the Government’s long-term plan to build a stronger economy – which has seen unemployment compared to 2010 decline, with four million additional people in work.

The Government has already succeeded in getting one million more disabled people into employment by 2027, five years ahead of schedule, with tailored support helping claimants realise their potential.

Access to Work grants worth up to £66,000 made working easier for nearly 50,000 people last year. The Government’s flagship Universal Support programme is set to provide up to 25,000 people with highly personalised employment support, working closely with employers to navigate any workplace adjustments required to accommodate individual needs.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies MP, said:

There are so many benefits and positives autistic people can bring to the workplace, and this is matched by what employment can bring to them. We must make sure they get the work opportunities they want and deserve.

This welcome and important review will help ensure autistic people can thrive and progress in the labour market. I am keen employers get behind these recommendations, and partner with us to truly make our workforce more inclusive and welcoming.

Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, said:

We want autistic people to have equal opportunities to flourish in society and contribute to the economy.

For too long there have been too many barriers for them in the workplace; this review is a major step to changing that.

This builds on our five-year autism strategy and shows our continued commitment to ensuring autistic people are able to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

The review is the latest milestone in the Government’s mission to make the UK the most accessible place in the world, following the publication of the Disability Action Plan earlier this month, the launch of the Lilac Review, which will investigate the barriers disabled entrepreneurs face, and the longer-term National Disability Strategy, which will transform disabled people’s everyday lives for the better.

It also builds on the Government’s employment and welfare reforms – including the new £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan which will help thousands more disabled people and people with health conditions to start and thrive in work.

Additional information

• The Buckland Review of Autism Employment is available online.
• The latest figures for employment of autistic people are available on GOV.UK.
• The review is intended to complement, rather than duplicate, the Government’s national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults. Details of this strategy, which also recognises employment as a priority, are available on GOV.UK.
• Autism charity Autistica, which supported the review, has now launched the Neurodiversity Employers Index, NDEI®, an evidence-based framework to help organisations recruit and support neurodivergent employees and become leading neurodiversity-friendly employers. More information can be found on the Autistica website.
• A dedicated taskforce will be set up to further the work of the review.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 23 February 2024.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) outlines plans to make £1.4 trillion in pension schemes work better for savers and the wider economy.

• Options include making surplus extraction easier and designing a public sector consolidator

The DWP today set out plans to ensure the £1.4 trillion held by pension schemes delivers for savers and the economy.

Plans include making surplus extraction easier for well-funded Defined Benefit (DB) schemes, alongside a public sector consolidator operated by the Pension Protection Fund.

The consultation – which runs from today (Friday 23 February) until Friday 19 April – seeks views on how the money held in DB schemes can be best unlocked in the interest of savers and for sustainable investment in the wider economy.

Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard said:

We are in a welcome position with DB pension schemes enjoying high levels of funding, and we want to make this money work harder for savers and the wider economy. I welcome industry views on our plans to reform the pensions market.

Over the last decade most DB schemes have become better funded, with the average scheme having a funding level of 113% in 2022, compared to 104% in 2010. This has led to an aggregate surplus of £200 billion.

By supporting these schemes to invest surplus in UK productive finance assets, it is believed the schemes can help boost the UK’s leading position as a leading financial centre, creating wealth to help fund public services.

Additionally, with around 5,000 schemes operating in the UK, consolidation of the market could also further the productive finance agenda – providing greater opportunity to strengthen the economy through increased investment.

Consolidation could also continue to strengthen security for savers through economies of scale and improved governance – ensuring better outcomes for savers remain at the heart of the proposals.

Further Information

• Link to the ‘Options for Defined Benefit Schemes’ consultation: Options for Defined Benefit schemes – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• This consultation builds on ‘Options for defined benefit schemes: a call for evidence’ published in July 2023.

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 21 February 2024.

The UK Government recently launched its Occupational Health Innovation Fund which has provided £1m funding to 10 projects to develop innovative new models of OH, using technology to improve the capacity and capability of OH providers and increase access for SMEs. Phase Two of the fund is expected to start in April.

• Dame Carol Black, an experienced health policy advisor, will lead a new Taskforce to improve employer awareness of the benefits of Occupational Health in the workplace.
• Only 45% of workers in Britain currently have access to some form of Occupational Health service.
• The Taskforce is part of the government’s drive to tackle in-work sicknesses and help grow the economy.

Businesses will be urged to tackle in-work sickness and stop people falling out the workforce, following the appointment of Dame Carol Black as the Government’s new Occupational Health Tsar.

Dame Carol, who has decades of experience in medicine and policy advisory while having chaired multiple government reviews, will head up a Taskforce that will produce a voluntary occupational health framework for businesses – which will include setting out minimum levels of occupational health needed to stop sickness-related job losses, and help businesses better support those returning to work after a period of ill-health.

Just 28% of employers in Britain provide some form of occupational health, with large employers (89%) nearly three times more likely than Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) (28%) to do so.

This much needed framework – expected this Summer – will form part of the Government’s drive to reduce inactivity levels and waiting list times.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, added:

Millions of working days are lost each year through sickness. We are helping businesses tackle this challenge head on so we can help boost productivity and grow our economy.

The work of Dame Carol and her expert Taskforce will be crucial as we drive down absenteeism, which we know is holding back British businesses and really focus on making occupational health support available to all.

Our £2.5bn Back to Work Plan will also help one million people, including those with long-term health conditions and disabilities, find work and reap the benefits it has to offer.

Only 45% of workers in Britain have access to some form of occupational health, and with an estimated 1.8 million workers reporting work-related ill health in 2022/23, the government is acting to tackle long-term sickness to help people stay and succeed in work.

The Taskforce comes as the Government gets a £64 million pilot of a new WorkWell service underway, which will help 60,000 people with health conditions stay and succeed in work through integrated employment and health support.

The Taskforce will meet for the first time today aiming to increase access and uptake of occupational health through:

• Increasing information and visibility for employers on occupational health and the benefits of quality occupational health provision in retaining employees in the workplace.
• Empowering employers to play an active role in improving employee health.
• Removing barriers by focusing on SMEs with restricted finances and by ensuring that the Framework is applicable across sectors.
• Complementing other existing health and disability workplace initiatives, including where occupational health is required in law.

Dame Carol Black, Tsar of the Occupational Health Taskforce, said:

It is a privilege to Chair the new Taskforce which will review occupational health services available to employees across businesses of all shapes and sizes and then create a framework to support better employee health and wellbeing. We will encourage employers to embrace practices that prevent or reduce ill-health related job loss.

We know the impact high sickness absence and presenteeism has on businesses and their productivity, which is why I am so pleased to work with other members of the Taskforce to ensure occupational health support is in place for employees and employers alike.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP, added:

A healthy economy is only possible with a healthy workforce.

We want more people to be able to benefit from good occupational health, especially employees in small businesses, because we know it works.

This Taskforce will set us on the path towards a healthier workforce, in turn boosting productivity and economic growth.

The UK Government recently launched its Occupational Health Innovation Fund which has provided £1 million in funding to 10 projects to develop innovative new models of Occupational Health, using technology to improve the capacity and capability of providers and increase access for SMEs.

A show and tell event demonstrating the innovative tools and resources will be held at the Department for Health and Social Care today. It will be attended by the Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill, and Minister for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately.

Additional Information

• Dame Carol Black is currently Chair of the British Library, the Centre for Ageing Better, and Think Ahead, the Government’s fast-stream training programme for Mental Health Social Workers. She co-chairs NHS England/Improvement’s Expert Advisory Group on Employee Health and Wellbeing. In 2022 she was appointed Independent Adviser to the Government on combatting misuse of drugs. Dame Carol has completed four independent reviews for the UK Government: of the health of the working-age population in 2008 as National Director for Health and Work; of sickness absence in Britain in 2011 as co-chair; of employment outcomes of addiction to drugs or alcohol, or obesity, in 2016; and on illicit drugs, demand, supply and treatment.
• In the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a wide-reaching £2billion package to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This included two OH consultations. One was led by HMT/HMRC: Tax Incentives for Occupational Health, and the other by us Occupational Health: Working Better, which sought views on ways of increasing employer uptake of occupational health.
• At Autumn Statement 2023, the Occupational Health: Working Better consultation response took account of stakeholder feedback and outlined plans to imminently establish an Expert Group Task and Finish to support the development of a new occupational health Voluntary Minimum Framework.
• Further guidance will be published on GOV.UK in due course as the group begins its work to transform occupational health provision.
• Employee access to Occupational Health: (Employee research Phase 1 and 2 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))
• Employer provision of Occupational Health: Department for Work and Pensions Employer Survey 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Sickness absence stats: Sickness absence in the UK labour market – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
• HSE work-related ill-health stats are from here: Statistics – About HSE statistics

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 February 2024.

More than a quarter of a million workplace training places for benefit claimants have been delivered in just three years, new data reveals.

• 266,000 workplace training places delivered – boosting skills and long-term economic growth
• Target hit early as more than 80,000 jobseekers start already this year
• Programme tackling skills shortages in key sectors as £2.5bn Back to Work Plan expands employment support for over a million people

The latest figures show that in the last financial year 81,190 places were delivered – smashing the 80,000 target two months ahead of schedule. It brings the total number since the Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) was set up to 266,330.

As part of the government’s long-term plan for growth, these programmes give jobseekers a unique work opportunity with six-weeks on-the-job training and experience before a guaranteed interview, helping them prepare for and move into work.

There has been 266,330 starts on a SWAP since 2021, with 81,190 in the latest financial year – smashing an 80,000 target for the year two months early.

Unlike traditional work experience, SWAPs are often backed by employers looking to fill active vacancies. Businesses help craft these programmes, so that participants gain the skills and experience right for their roles.

Some of the most popular places were in sectors with the highest number of vacancies including:

• 36,810 in construction;
• 25,900 in security;
• 21,250 in hospitality;
• 19,930 in logistics and freight

Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

Hundreds of thousands are taking full advantage of SWAPs and it’s easy to see why – these programmes are a great way for people to learn new skills and gain on the job experience, giving them the very best opportunity to get back into work and succeed.

Whether it’s over 50s returning to work or those just starting out, SWAPs are not only getting thousands onto the career ladder, they are helping businesses fill vacancies with staff who can hit the ground running.

Building on this delivery milestone, our £2.5bn Back to Work Plan will help over a million people to start and succeed in work.

From coding to matchday stewarding, becoming a fitness instructor or learning to mix cocktails in hospitality, there’s a breadth of courses backed by big industry names to appeal to jobseekers of any age, background and experience out there.

20-24 year olds made the most starts on SWAPs of any age group at 40,700, while 38,040 starts have been made by workers over 50 providing practical experience to kickstart professional careers at any age.

London saw the highest take up of SWAPs with 45,630, followed by the South East region with 28,250. This was followed closely by the North West with 28,130.

Mark, from Truro who secured a full-time job in the NHS after his SWAP said:

When I became unemployed the support I received through my local Jobcentre really improved my confidence and helped me to identify the transferable skills I had.

My Work Coach told me about the NHS SWAP which I didn’t think would be for someone like me. However, here I am back in work with a full-time role as a Clinical Imaging Assistant. I would encourage anyone looking for a new line of work to do a SWAP as it opens so many doors for a brighter future.

Diane, 58, from Devonport also secured a role with District Health Care and said:

When I first visited the Jobcentre I was low on confidence as I had been told by an employer that they were looking for someone younger. I was lacking motivation but with the support from my Work Coach I was helped to update my CV and they encouraged me to take part on a care SWAP. The SWAP helped to boost my confidence, identify the skills I had and the future is looking bright as I have now secured a fulltime role thanks to the support that I was provided with.

A further 80,000 starts are expected to be delivered next year which will see even more benefit claimants supported into work.

The milestone comes as the DWP’s Back to Work Plan is set to help over a million people, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions to break down barriers to work.

Mary Macleod, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:

Offering pre-employment support to jobseekers is critical in helping more people into work and to transform their lives. With many job seekers facing barriers to employment and employers struggling to recruit, programmes like DWP’s SWAPs have done a great job of tackling two problems with one solution.

Giving jobseekers the holistic and effective employment support needed to help them find and stay in work will also enable employers to tap into a wider talent pool of candidates, showing the clear business benefit for getting involved.

Additional Information:

• SWAPs provide jobseekers with 6 weeks pre-employment training, vocational training run by a local college or training provider, work experience with an employer and a job interview with an employer in the sector at the end of the programme.
• SWAPs are available for jobseekers claiming Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in England and Scotland.
• SWAPs are backed by some of the biggest business industry representatives including the British Chamber of Commerce, the Learning and Work Institute as well as sector bodies such as Build UK.
• SWAPs are free with claimants continuing to receive benefits whilst taking part.
• Jobseekers or benefit claimants should contact their local Jobcentre Plus for more information about local SWAP opportunities available to them. Jobseekers looking for a job can use the Find a Job website on gov.uk.
• See the full breakdown of statistics for Sector-based Work Academies here: Written questions and answers – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament.

This includes:

• 266,330 starts in total
• 81,190 in the latest financial year
• 38,040 for over 50’s
• 960 for over 65’s
• 40,700 for 20 – 24 year olds
• 31,710 for 25 – 29 year olds