Thu, 06 Mar 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 Work coaches to focus on long-term unemployed

Ministers hope the plans will help reduce the rapidly rising cost of health and disability benefits.

* The government plans to use 1,000 work coaches to help long-term unemployed people into work, focusing on tackling economic inactivity.
* The coaches will provide personalized and intensive support to thousands of sick and disabled people.
* However, only a tiny percentage (3%) of those likely to lose benefit payments are expected to find a job, according to the Resolution Foundation.
* The government hopes that moving people into jobs will help them unlock the benefits of work and cut rising costs of health and disability benefits.
* The current system is described as "broken" and failing to intervene early enough to prevent unemployment.
* 2.8 million people are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, with the government spending £65bn on sickness benefits last year (a 25% increase).
* Chancellor Rachel Reeves has earmarked several billion pounds in draft spending cuts to welfare ahead of the Spring Statement.
* Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall says the system is "failing sick and disabled people" and holding back economic growth.
  >>