Pathways from poverty: The future of the DWP

This new Demos report sets out how institutions beyond the DWP could deliver employment support to ill and disabled people.

Report recommendations

Devolved assemblies should gain full responsibility for providing employment support to ill and disabled people.
Local authorities and NHS trusts should gain full responsibility for delivering welfare-to-work programmes for ill and disabled people for a trial period.
The DWP should explore new commissioning models which move beyond a 'payment-by-results' approach for third sector organisations.
Government should exempt those in the ESA WRAG group from conditionality.
Government should introduce a 'three strikes’ warning system before sanctions are applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants.
The DWP should launch a ‘co- production unit’ committed to involving these techniques in the delivery of their services.
The DWP should trial awarding groups of ill and disabled people shared ‘personal budgets’ for co-designed employment support.