Latest news with #PathwaystoWorkGreenPaper
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Mental health struggles at work troubling Scotland
New polling commissioned by Chrysalis, the UK's largest counsellor training provider, has revealed the extent to which poor mental health is undermining workplace productivity in Scotland. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than one in three Scots (35%) say their performance at work has suffered due to mental health struggles. Roughly one in eight (12%) reported taking multiple days off work in the past year for mental health reasons – highlighting a growing issue for both employees and employers. These findings come as the Government faces pressure to tackle sluggish economic growth and reduce long-term sickness-related absence. In response, ministers recently published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, outlining plans to reform the benefits and employment support system, partly in a bid to control the rising welfare bill associated with ill mental health. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As part of these reforms, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall set out proposals to overhaul jobcentres and enhance the role of work coaches, aiming to 'Get Britain Working' by supporting sick and disabled people who are able to return to work. Meanwhile, appetite for digital therapy solutions, such as Chrysalis Talking Therapies, continues to grow However, the Government's ambitions may be undermined by pressures on mental health services. In March, Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that the share of the NHS budget allocated to mental health is set to fall next year. Chrysalis's research suggests that a lack of access to support may be a key driver of the UK's high rates of economic inactivity. Over a fifth (21%) of respondents said they have struggled to access therapy or counselling services locally. The same number of Scots (21%) said this has led them to consider leaving their current job. Meanwhile, appetite for digital therapy solutions, such as Chrysalis Talking Therapies, continues to grow. 41% of respondents said they would consider online therapy if it were more accessible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking on the poll's findings, Ross Elliott, CEO of Chrysalis said: 'The Government cannot ignore the significant toll recent years have taken on mental health across the country. Lingering effects of the pandemic, ongoing financial pressures, and growing international tensions have combined to leave Scotland's wellbeing at concerning levels. More than one in three Scots (35%) say their performance at work has suffered due to mental health struggles. 'Our research has revealed the stark reality of how poor mental health is impacting productivity in Scotland. As the Government looks to stimulate the economy and Get Britain Working, addressing the nation's mental health must be top of the agenda.
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
New DWP plans to help people with a disability or health condition find and stay in work
The Labour Government has outlined new measures to help more people with health issues into work. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out plans to help disabled people and those with health conditions on Universal Credit find and stay in work. Proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been put on hold until the outcome of a review of the assessment process, which will be co-produced by Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms and disability groups. This is due to be completed by next Autumn, however, changes to Universal Credit are already underway. Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, set out the plans in a written response to Independent MP Andrew Gwynne, who asked 'what steps are being taken to support disabled people to find work'. Ms McGovern said: 'Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live.' The DWP Minister continued: 'Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems.' Measures include: Support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres Access to Work grants Joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care Ms McGovern said: 'We are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and people with health conditions in at least a generation. 'We announced in the recent Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work. 'This is backed up by £2.2 billion over four years, including £200m in 2026/27 when our benefit changes begin to take effect and as announced in the statement on Welfare Reform (June 30) by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, an additional £300 million over the next three years. 'This brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament.' She added: 'Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched in November 2024, will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate.' To increase employment opportunities and support for disabled people and those with health conditions, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review to look at how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie will deliver his final report in the Autumn. Ms McGovern said: 'Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. 'Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.'
South Wales Argus
30-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Chris Evans MP on the UK Government's welfare reform
This is no surprise. The reforms proposed by the UK Government in the recent Pathways to Work Green Paper and the recently published Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill contain major proposals for change. It is hard to deny the welfare system in our country needs reform, but any reform must be done in the right way. I have very serious concerns about the government's proposals as they currently stand. That is why I signed an amendment to the UC and PIP Bill to stop these changes in their current form. My concern about these plans comes from the serious impact they could have on my constituents in Caerphilly. Our area is estimated to be one of the 10 areas in the UK to be hardest hit if these changes go ahead as they currently stand. Altogether, the proposals are estimated to impact around 13,000 people in Caerphilly, and around 190,000 across Wales. Clearly, many disabled people are at risk of losing vital income which, if lost, will push many into poverty. For those already in poverty, this will only make things worse. The impact of poverty is considerable on adults, but even more serious on their dependent children. It has harmful consequences for people's physical and mental health, educational attainment, and in some cases will force them into situations where they are more likely to be involved in crime. The Government is planning to increase employment support for those who might be able to work. This makes sense in principle, and it is right that anyone who wants to work and can work should be supported to do so. However, the reality is this extra employment support is only estimated to be able to help a small fraction, about 3 per cent, of those who will lose out. I have called on the government to think again on these proposals. At the very least, they must consult with and listen directly to the people who will be affected most. The Government must change its plans to mitigate the harms that so many have pointed out. Above all, they must do everything they can to ensure any changes to our welfare system do not push people into poverty, or increase demands on many of our already struggling public services. Chris Evans is MP for Caerphilly.
North Wales Live
27-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
North Wales MP's support for welfare cuts branded 'a disgrace'
A Colwyn Bay councillor has slammed Clwyd North's MP for vowing to support a bill that could put tens of thousands of children into poverty. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to cut costs on personal independence payments (PIP) in a bid to save around £5 billion on welfare benefits. But 126 MPs have backed an amendment that would stop the bill being passed – with a vote on the matter set to take place next Tuesday. Last night, the Government offered Labour rebels a series of concessions in an effort to head off Sir Keir's first major Commons defeat since coming to power. Party rebels started to turn after a government impact assessment found in March that the cuts could push around 250,000 people into poverty. Last week, Labour MP, Gill German, who represents Clwyd North, vowed to support the controversial bill. Now Colwyn Bay town councillor Phil Ashe has slammed the MP, saying she represents some of the poorest communities in Wales, many of whom rely on benefits. 'I'm really disappointed that our MP Gill German hasn't supported the 126 MPs and signed the amendment to next week's welfare reform bill,' said Cllr Ashe. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. 'Her government's own impact assessment says 50,000 more children will be pushed into poverty, yet she is clearly just going to toe the party line. The areas she is representing, Rhyl West for one, are some of the most deprived areas in the UK. "Another one, Glyn Ward in Colwyn Bay, is above the average for people that claim PIP payments. It is one of the most deprived areas of the country. People in Colwyn Bay claim more PIP payments than the national average, and she wants to take away their PIP payments, and these are people in her own constituency, just so she can toe the party line of what is clearly a failing government. It is a disgrace.' Mrs German declined to comment. Last week Mrs German defended the government's bid to cut the welfare bill. 'Our health and disability benefits system and employment support system needs urgent reform,' she said. 'Since our Pathways to Work Green Paper was published in March, I have engaged extensively on this with constituents as well as national and local organisations in this field, including person-roundtable events in Clwyd North and through work as a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee.' She added: 'These have informed my representations to government ministers and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. I will continue to work with government on this important issue.' Public notices in your area
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Calls to ‘abandon' new DWP benefit reforms and create a National Disability Strategy nears milestone
Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for DWP reforms due to start next year to be scrapped. Nearly 9,500 people have signed an online petition urging the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to 'abandon' proposed welfare reforms to health and disability benefits, outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Petition creator Rick Burgess, is calling for the UK Government to scrap the plans due to start from next November and instead work with disability charities and organisations across the country to create a 'National Disability Strategy'. The campaigner argues that the plans will see 'devastating cuts to disability benefits ' and puts forward proposals to 'protect the income of disabled people from further shocks'. The 'Abandon DWP Pathways to Work Green Paper and create National Disability Strategy' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions-Parliament website. It states: 'The DWP Green Paper Pathways to Work proposes what we think are devastating cuts to disability benefits. We think the Government must drop these proposals and instead begin a process of co-production with disabled peoples representative organisations to create a whole government disability strategy.' The proposals include: Abandon the DWP Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Establish and resource a disability strategy co-production infrastructure working with Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (Organisations run by and for disabled people) to create a National Disability Strategy to inform Labour market, Employment rights and Social Security reform that provides an adequate standard of living in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Protect the income of disabled people from further shocks. At 10,000 signatures, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely from the DWP. At 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view it in full here. Last month, the DWP rejected proposals in another online petition calling for the welfare reforms to be scrapped. More than 27,400 people have signed in support of the petition, posted by disability activist Abigail Broomfield who argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should be providing 'support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.' However, the DWP response in April highlighted how the 'UK Government must urgently tackle the spiralling welfare bill, restore trust and fairness in the system, and protect disabled people. Social security reforms will therefore continue as planned.' The welfare reform proposals centre on changes to both the eligibility criteria for and the reduced payment rates of benefits and include plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), meaning the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. Responding to the 'Protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits' petition - also posted on the official UK Government petitions website, DWP said: 'Our welfare system is broken, costing almost a third as much as it does to run the NHS in England while leaving people for years on benefits with no offer of support, no hope of a future in work and no opportunity to improve their standard of living. 'Working-age adults who are in work are three times less likely to be in poverty than those out of work. We need to act to end the inequality that sees disabled people and people with health conditions trapped out of jobs, despite many wanting to work, and ensure our welfare system is there for people who need it, now and long into the future. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health.' DWP went on to list the changes being made to the system to 'support sick and disabled people - many of whom want to work - into jobs, while protecting those with the most severe conditions who can never work'. Commenting on the DWP's response, Ms Broomfield told the Daily Record: 'They've not addressed how they're going to protect disabled people who can't work and have just repeated points from the Green Paper. 'In fact they've doubled down on how by claiming that getting disabled people into work is going to protect disabled people.' The disability campaigner added: 'A Freedom of Information request revealed that nearly 90 per cent of disabled people or 1.3 million people who only get standard rates or PIP are going to be losing money.' Ms Broomfield will continue her campaign to get the petition to 100,000 signatures of support where it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can read the full petition and DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website here. Online consultation The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launched on April 7 on with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on Monday June 30, 2025. The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. DWP said: 'One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.' The measures are the latest step in the UK Government's drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers' proposed plans set to: Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions DWP said that without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future. Issues open for consultation include: Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer Supporting employers and making work more accessible Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system DWP said: "These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren't indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit."
