Employment and Support Allowance

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• Employment and Support Allowance
• BASE Conference
• 11 September 2008
• Phil Bartlett
• Programme Director
• Jobcentre Plus

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Employment Support Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance forms part of
  the Welfare Reform programme.
• Fits within the key principles of work for those
  who can, support for those who cannot by
  focusing on our customers capability for work.
  It recognises that for the vast majority of us
  work is the best form of welfare for our health,
  wealth and security - both now and in the future.
  
• Offers a work-focused regime to support customers
  back into employment where that is possible.
• Our goal is to reduce the numbers of working age
  people who are dependent on benefit, and to
  continue to close the employment gaps between
  different groups.
• Available from 27 October 2008 for new
  applications from customers with a health
  condition or disability. Replaces Incapacity
  Benefit and Income Support (on basis of
  incapacity) subject to Incapacity Benefit linking
  rules.

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The case for change

• 72 of customers have received incapacity
  benefits for over 2 years, and are more likely to
  die or reach retirement age than return to work.
• But, 80-90 of people making a claim for
  incapacity benefits want and expect to get back
  to work.
• After decades of low expectations for customers
  of incapacity benefits, we are now serving second
  and third generation benefit customers and we
  want to end this
• Opportunities are there to help more of our ill
  or disabled customers move towards work
• 18,500 new vacancies reported to us every day.
• Over 600,000 vacancies.
• Labour Market inactivity is lowest since 1992.
• So need is for a gateway to work.
• not a gateway to
  benefit.

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How does it work?

• An integrated Allowance comprising contributory
  and income related benefits
• A new customer account management system re-uses
  data. Less repetition of information, so quicker
  application process
• Making the most of telephony for faster, more
  accurate processing, no forms to sign and an 0800
  number for new applications - other contact
  channels available where needed
• A 13 week assessment period
• Access to new medical assessments
• Assessing the customers capability for work or
  work related activity
• A main phase from the 14th Week comprising
• A revised award of the Allowance to include
  work-related activity or support group components
• Access to Personal Adviser for work focused
  interviews
• Access to condition management and work focused
  activity support

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Vulnerable Customers

• Those customers who have difficulty in dealing
  with the demands of our processes through our
  preferred channel at a time when they need to
  access our service and as a result need
  additional support
• Our aim is to offer a sensitive service to
  customers with built in flexibilities to ensure
  we are able to help vulnerable customers make
  their claim by giving access to contact channels
  that better meet their individual needs as far as
  possible
• Training package for Personal Advisers
  incorporates comprehensive coverage to working
  with customers with an illness or disability
  including mental health

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Focusing on capability

• Work Capability Assessment will use updated
  mental and physical health assessments, including
  the interaction between physical and mental
  health
• It incorporates a Work Focused Health Related
  Assessment to look at what the customer can do,
  not just what they cannot do, and identify any
  health barriers to work allowing the customer
  the opportunity to discuss their hopes and fears
  and the approved healthcare professional the
  chance to reassure them
• The health assessment report will be sent to the
  customer and their Personal Adviser and will be
  used to support the work-focused interviews
• The Personal Adviser will be able to refer
  customers for a package of employment support,
  training and assistance in managing their illness
  or disability

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Work Capability Assessment

• The Work Capability Assessment has three
  components
• Limited Capability for Work
• Assessment to help determine benefit entitlement
  based on the extent to which, a customers
  illness or disability affects their capability
  for work
• Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity
• Assessment to determine whether the customer can
  be placed into the Support Group because the
  effect of their condition is such that they are
  unable to engage in work-related activity
• Work Focused Health Related Assessment
• Interview with the healthcare professional who
  will ask a customer how they feel their illness
  or disability is stopping them from working, and
  what help they may need to start work. The report
  will provide advice to a Personal Adviser about
  potential barriers to work and any relevant
  health related interventions identified

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Work Capability Assessment and the Personal
Adviser

• The Work Focused Health Related Assessment
  assists the Personal Adviser by
• Identifying what challenges the customer has
  against getting back to work and what help and
  support can be provided to support them in
  overcoming these difficulties.
• Providing constructive information to support
  them in helping customers take steps back towards
  the labour market and gives information about
• The type of work the customer has experience in
• Why they stopped work
• An assessment of the customers capabilities in
  the light of their medical condition
• Special help and equipment they might need or
  have used
• Whether the customers condition or disability
  might pose a risk in the workplace.
• By focusing on the information in the Work
  Focused Health Related Assessment, the Personal
  Adviser can concentrate on the customers
  capabilities rather than on what they cannot do
  and determine the best package of support for
  them.

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Opportunities

• Once we have established the capabilities and
  work aspirations of our customers, we will work
  with them and our key partners to help them
  achieve their goals
• Pathways to Work
• Local Employment Partnerships

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What is Pathways to Work ?

• Gives individual, targeted support to people with
  health problems and disabilities, while balancing
  rights and responsibilities
• Helps customers overcome health-related, personal
  and external barriers to work, improving
  work-entry and retention
• Enhanced package of support from the early days
  of their benefit claim, providing right help at
  right time
• Provides a platform for Employment and Support
  Allowance regime

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Pathways success stories
The fact I have now regained my confidence
started work again has not only had a positive
affect on my life, but also that of my whole
family Alison, Hamilton
Pathways made it easy for me to get back out
there, I cant thank you enough. Mark held my
hand every step of the way and gave me the
direction and confidence I needed to go out and
get the job I wanted Sharon, Bathgate
With all the support I have found a job that
suits me perfectly and I am so happy Kathleen,
Uddingston
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What are Local Employment Partnerships?

• Local Employment Partnerships are joined up
  employment and skills in action, and an integral
  part of the governments employment, skills and
  welfare reform agenda. Their aims are
• that employers agree to work with Jobcentre Plus
  to provide more opportunities for our priority
  customers.
• to support our priority customers to help them
  overcome their barriers to work and give them the
  chance to prepare for specific vacancies and
  opportunities.
• to get a quarter of a million priority customers
  into work by the end of 2010.
• They are based on a simple deal we get our
  priority customers ready for work and employers
  with vacancies give them a fair shot at the jobs.

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Local Employment Partnerships success stories
I feel that this experience has improved my
outlook on life and my general health has
improved since I started work. I really
appreciated the help, advice and support given by
my Jobcentre Plus adviser. It has made going back
to work much easier. Sandy
I feel as though Im achieving something for
myself at the same time as helping people by
giving customer service in the shop. Jackie Her
son added, Mum is much happier now she has a
job.
Now Ive got plenty of motivation and
confidence. What Ive learnt has strengthened me.
My kids are proud. Im buying a home. I have a
whole new life. Andrew
"I'm really happy in my job. When youre out of
work for a while your comfort zone really shrinks
and it can be daunting to think about going back
to work. Colin
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Working Together

• We are listening to and engaged with
• Our customers
• Policy and Operational Colleagues
• Our suppliers and delivery partners
• Other Government Departments and Local
  Authorities and of course
• Customer Representative Groups
• ..to support the smooth introduction of
  Employment and Support Allowance and crucially,
  our shared customers to achieve their hopes and
  aspirations.

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Welfare Reform Green Paper

• Customers currently receiving Incapacity Benefit
  or Income Support because of an illness or
  disability will continue to receive their
  existing benefits, so long as they continue to
  satisfy the entitlement conditions.
• You will be aware however, that the Government
  has launched a consultation into proposals to
  reform the welfare state, including how to
  simplify the welfare system and bring existing
  customers of incapacity benefits into Employment
  and Support Allowance.
• If you would like to contribute to the
  consultation you can find the document "No one
  written off reforming welfare to reward
  responsibility" and take part in the debate, by
  visiting www.dwp.gov.uk/noonewrittenoff

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Thank You

• Any Questions?