A North East Lincolnshire charity is warning that welfare reforms could have a huge impact on disabled people
It's been announced work capability assessments will be changed
Last updated 24th Nov 2023
A North East Lincolnshire organisation that supports people with disabilities is concerned about Government welfare reforms - saying employers need to better support those looking for work.
In this week's Autumn statement Jeremy Hunt said programmes involving work placements would become mandatory in some circumstances.
It's been announced work capability assessments will be changed to reflect the availability of homeworking.
That could mean more people with health conditions and disabilities taking up jobs.
Paul Silverstone from Foresight tells us how he feels about the announcement:
"I just think that ministers don't have a clue about the barriers, the issues, and the problems facing disabled people at the particularly pertinent in North East Lincolnshire, because we've got high levels of deprivation, high levels of unemployment, and the majority of people we provide services to, would really struggle to hold down a job.
"I mean they talk about people working from home and a lot of the people that come to us are not computer literate. It would be impossible for them to work from home, and the real issue that this is gonna cause is going to have, is a major negative effect on people's mental health, because they're gonna be so worried about what is going to happen to them."
Paul Added that the Government should be looking into working with employers instead, to improve support:
"We're not saying that disabled people don't want to work, you know, but it's employers, they won't employ them locally. We know that because they haven't got the skills or the ability, you know, it's very, very difficult.
"I mean we employ two apprentices, and both have disabilities, but we're so knowledgeable that we can support them, and we can have appropriate support measures in place. Very few employers, you know, have that knowledge of how to work with, and how to support disabled people.
"So, I think that alone shows a real barrier, and you've got to ask yourself, where are these people going to find work? and the price of having to go to work, when they can't do the job will be incredible on people's mental health. It will also be incredible on their lifestyles and the knock on effect with parents, families, carers. It could be catastrophic if we're not careful."
The Chancellor says there'll be intensive support for those involved and that this type of initiative will improve people's skills and employability.
It's also not yet confirmed if disabled people will be included in the mandatory work placements.
Jeremy Hunt says over 100,000 people are signed off with no requirement to look for work because of sickness and disability every year.