Mon, 31 Mar 2025

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 Half of job centres reducing support over shortages

A report says there are 2,100 fewer work coaches than needed while the number of people requiring support has risen.
The DWP is understaffed, with an estimated 2,100 fewer work coaches than needed. A lack of funding and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff were cited as reasons for cutbacks. According to the report, the number of claimants requiring support rose from 2.6 million to 3 million between September 2023 and November 2024. The government claims it is redeploying 1,000 work coaches to help address the shortage, but a charity campaigning against poverty says this undermines plans to get more disabled people into work. A senior policy adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation stated that "the government must urgently explain how it plans to support disabled people into work while these work coach shortages remain". The number of claimants moving into work each month has fallen over the past two years, despite an increase in those qualifying for support due to changes to income rules. The DWP claims it is modernizing job centers with new digital tools and redeploying staff to help sick and disabled people into work.
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