15 December 2004 - Strengthened support for people on incapacity benefits who want to try work
Almost a quarter of people on incapacity benefits who participated in permitted work have found jobs, according to research published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The new research also showed that people with moderate musculo-skeletal difficulties and mental health conditions are the most likely to get back to work.
Many of those surveyed found that their health conditions were not the barriers to work they originally thought and most reported increased self-confidence, motivation and independence.
Permitted Work Rules allow people with health conditions and disabilities to try out paid work, while remaining on benefits, as a stepping stone to full time work.
The Government has already indicated its intention to build on the current provisions by announcing measures for improving permitted work in the Pre Budget Report. The DWP will raise greater awareness of the new rules through leaflets and in work focused interviews to encourage more people to take advantage of the scheme.
There will be more regular face-to-face contact with personal advisers who will agree and support an action plan with participants. And staff will get new guidance and training materials.
The rules will be simplified by allowing all participants an initial period of up to 52 weeks. People with progressive conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and rheumatoid arthritis will be able to continue permitted work beyond the 52 weeks.
Minister for Work and Pensions, Maria Eagle said:
“Many people on incapacity benefits want to work but are held back by the fear of the unknown and obstacles they face as a result of their health condition or disability.
“The Permitted Work Rules allow people to try out work. Thanks to the permitted work, more people have taken that first step that has helped them get off benefits and into work.
“But we want to do more. Those people with severe progressive conditions that limit their capacity for work, or those who need a support worker, will also be able to continue permitted work for longer periods while remaining on benefits.“
The enhanced Permitted Work Rules will now act as one of the measures in place to support people on incapacity benefits who want to return to work.
Notes for editor
- The Department for Work and Pensions Research Report “A Stepping Stone to Employment: an evaluation of permitted work rules wave 2” was published on 14 December - http://www.dwp.gov.uk/jad/index_2004.asp
- The Permitted Work Rules were introduced in April 2002.
- The Permitted Work Rules allow Incapacity Benefit recipients to earn up to £78 a week (16 hours at national minimum wage) for a period of up to 52 weeks and continue to receive benefit.
- The rules aim to help people on incapacity benefits to try some work whilst continuing to receive benefits with an emphasis on helping them to progress to full-time employment over time.
- The rules also allow Incapacity Benefit recipients to earn up to £20 a week indefinitely to help them keep in touch with the labour market. People on Income Support, because of incapacity, can also undertake Permitted Work but their benefit payments will be affected by earnings above £20.
- Some IB claimants work up to 16 hours but are supervised by a local authority or voluntary organisation in doing so. This group is allowed to earn up to £78 a week for however long they remain on IB. This is called Supported Permitted Work. This group will continue to be able to earn up to £78 for more than 52 weeks and when the rules are changed, a further group will also be able to earn up to £78: those with severe progressive conditions that limit their capacity to work longer hours.
- The following list provides a more comprehensive indication of the most limiting conditions that are a barrier to full-time employment. It would cover the individual conditions mentioned:
a severe learning disability; severe mental illness; tetraplegia; paraplegia (or uncontrollable involuntary movements or ataxia which effectively renders the sufferer functionally paraplegic); a severe and progressive neurological or muscle-wasting disease; an active and progressive form of inflammatory polyarthritis; a progressive impairment of the cardio-respiratory function which severely and persistently limits effort tolerance; dense paralysis of the upper limb, trunk and lower limb on one side of the body; multiple effects of impairment of function of the brain or nervous system causing severe and irreversible motor , sensory and intellectual deficits; severe and/or opportunistic infections or tumour formation (disorders such as AIDS).
This will be assessed as part of the exemption process during the personal capability assessment which determines entitlement to incapacity benefits. - The changes to the rules are expected to be introduced in April 2006.
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