Green paper on welfare reform published

In July 2008 the Department for Work and Pensions published a Green Paper, No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility, targeting an increase in employment rates and a reduction in the number of people claiming incapacity benefits by one million by 2015. The paper discusses the importance of making people more aware of their rights and responsibilities while in the benefit system, so with the exception of the severely disabled, full time carers and single parents, there will be a statutory obligation to work or undertake ‘work related activities.’

The Incapacity Benefit system is viewed as inappropriate by the report, with the belief being that it discourages work seeking through its very design. A new system, the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has been proposed to replace it, with the emphasis shifting towards increasing the potential for those with long term health conditions to be encouraged back into employment, in particular stressing the personal benefits this can have.

Eligibility for ESA will be assessed through a medical assessment, the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), to determine each individuals own ability to continue/return to some form of employment. Those who qualify will be sorted into two groups. The Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) is for those in need of a program of back-to-work support where steps are taken towards making individuals more employable. The second group, the Support Group is for those with severe disabilities or long term health conditions offering increased support and a voluntary back-to-work program.

The WRAG section of the new ESA proposals, set to replace incapacity benefits in October 2008, is designed to be a temporary resource providing greater support for those in recovery. It also sets out the obligation to keep working, with regular medical reassessments and consultations with a personal adviser to draw up a back-to-work timetable being compulsory.