Welfare to work linking rules improved

9 October 2006

Changes for the better have been introduced today to the rules that allow claimants of certain benefits to return to them after up to a year in work.

The main changes are that:

claimants can now start work within a month of coming off benefits rather than a week and still be covered;

there has been an increase in the period covered from 52 weeks to 104 weeks;

the need to register for Welfare to Work has been removed

Our factsheet on Work and Benefits for People with Long-Term Health Conditions has been updated to take account of the changes.