Jay Singh-Sohal has welcomed the Conservative Government’s new Back to Work Plan, helping people across the West Midlands to stay healthy, get off benefits, and look for and stay in work.
Jay Singh-Sohal said:
“A good job is a necessity for residents across the West Midlands, as not only does it improve living standards and help our local businesses by giving them the workforce they need to grow, it also boosts our health and wellbeing.
“This is why I am pleased about the new Back to Work Plan by this Conservative Government, which will build on our proud track record of getting four million more people into work since 2010. The package of measures will help over a million people into work and give everyone the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”
Building on the ambitious £7 billion employment package announced earlier this year, the Chancellor will outline a new Back to Work Plan in his Autumn Statement, expanding employment support and reforming the ways that people with disabilities and health conditions interact with the state.
As part of the plan, four key programmes – NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support, Restart and Universal Support – will be expanded, benefitting up to 1.1 million people over the next five years and supporting those with mental or physical health conditions into employment.
Alongside this, the WorkWell service announced at Spring Budget has been formally launched and will support almost 60,000 long-term sick and disabled people to start, stay and succeed in work across 15 areas in England.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said:
“We’re serious about growing our economy and that means we must address the rise in people who aren’t looking for work – especially because we know so many of them want to and with almost a million vacancies in the jobs market the opportunities are there.
“These changes mean there’s help and support for everyone – but for those who refuse it, there are consequences too. Anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers will lose their benefits.”
Stricter benefit sanctions will also be enforced by the Department for Work and Pensions for people who are able to work but refuse to engage with their Jobcentre or take on work offered to them. Benefit claimants who continue to refuse to engage with the Jobcentre will face having their claim closed.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, said:
“We are rolling out the next generation of welfare reforms to help more people start, stay and succeed in work. We know the positive impact work can have, not just on our finances, but our health and wellbeing too.
“So we are expanding the voluntary support for people with health conditions and disabilities, including our flagship Universal Support programme.
“But our message is clear: if you are fit, if you refuse to work, if you are taking taxpayers for a ride – we will take your benefits away.”
Further measures are also being explored, including trial reforms to the fit note process to make it easier and quicker for people to get specialised work and health support, with improved triaging and signposting.
The Back to Work Plan is part of wider package of measures to grow the economy expected in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.
Getting more people into work and making sure that work pays remains a key priority for the Conservative Government, ensuring fairness and helping to grow the economy, manage inflation and boost living standards.
ENDS
Jay Singh-Sohal 