New DWP statistics show that more than eight out of 10 disabled claimants have not achieved a ‘job outcome’ through the DWP Work and Health Programme (WHP).
The WHP replaced the Work Programme and Work Choice schemes.
There have been around 160,000 referrals to the programme, with the majority of these being disabled people.
The Programme provides support to help people find and keep a job. It is available, on a voluntary basis, to those with health conditions or disabilities, and to various groups of vulnerable people. It also provides support to those who have been unemployed for over two years, and it is compulsory for this group.
The new DWP statistics - for the period from the launch of the WHP in England and Wales between November 2017 and April 2018 up to August 2020 – show that of the 160,000 people started on the programme:
- 86,000 were in the Disability group (73 %);
- 21,000 were in the Long-term Unemployed group (18% ); and
- 10,000 (9%) were people who may need support to move into employment (the Early Access group).
The statistics show that the proportion of 'job outcomes' - defined as either six months in self-employment or earnings from 16 hours per week for 26 weeks at the National Living Wage - achieved within 12 months of starting the programme ranged between:
- 12 and 19% for those from the Disability group;
- 13 and 39% for those from the Early Access group; and
- 10 and 20% for those from the Long-term Unemployed group.
For more information, see Work and Health Programme statistics to August 2020 available from gov.uk