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Disabled work scheme rolled out to 250,000, but with no proof it works

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The DWP have announced that they are rolling out their Workwell scheme to 250,000 people, but have failed to publish any evidence of how well it is actually working.

The department announced earlier this week that, following a trial starting in October 2024 involving 25,000 working age people with health conditions, the scheme would now be rolled out nationally.

Workwell is a voluntary scheme which offers support to overcome health-related barriers to employment, for people who are employed but struggling or who are not currently employed.

Support includes:

  • Physiotherapy for back pain and mobility issues
  • Mental health interventions including counselling and psychological support
  • Ongoing health condition management.

The DWP was able to give many statistics about the pilot, such as:

  • 41% of participants were in work, 59% out of work.
  • 28% were referred by their GP, compared to 27% self-referral and 24% from Jobcentre Plus.
  • Over two thirds (68%) were aged 35 and over.

The main barriers to work listed by participants were:

  • Mental health issues 48%
  • Musculoskeletal problems 21%
  • Autism 4%
  • Heart, blood pressure, blood circulation problems 2%
  • Learning difficulties 2%
  • Other 22%

Somewhat alarmingly, the report’s definitions section explains that “mental health problems”  include “bad nerves” and “manic depression”, neither being terms that are still in common usage amongst health professionals.

What the report utterly fails to provide amongst its many statistics, however, is what the success rate for the scheme is.  In particular, how many unemployed, disabled participants entered sustained employment as a result of taking part.

All the DWP will say is that “Data on WorkWell outcomes will be available in due course.”

So, whether the DWP don’t know the outcomes but have decided to roll the scheme out anyway, or do know the outcomes but would really rather not share them, remains unclear.

But for the present, it is definitely worth reminding readers that the Workwell scheme is voluntary and you are free to refuse if invited to take part.

You can read a DWP press release on Workwell and read the WorkWell Pilot Management Information from 1 October 2024 to 30 November 2025

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Emily James
    · 14 days ago
    Most of us left work either because bodies couldn’t cope and had serious burn out and crash which never recovered from “putting work first”. Or spent years being off sick and not having enough time to recover before going back. Or being expected to work more than you could. Even the best boss in the world can’t have one person doing 5h one week and 20 the next. When you are employed for 40 hours in a team. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Duncan
    · 14 days ago
    I have HIV after being raped,  I suffer with bulimia and I self harm and tried to end it a few times , I have major trust issues and I struggle to function on a day to day basis , how in earth am I or anyone else who is mentally ill or physically ill supposed to cope? And will employers be okay with staff that have needs to take time off for hospital/psychological/therapy appointments? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Clay
      · 12 days ago
      @Duncan Have you considered volunteering or working for a charity/helpline that helps people who have been through similar stuff to what you have?  I have a story a bit like your story. I found helping people who have been through the same kind of stuff weirdly... uplifting (?).  Helps you feel less alone and you are good for people who have had issues because you understand them.  Maybe?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lord Crump
    · 15 days ago
    I am on the autistic spectrum and I tried the previous scheme like this - run by Fedcap. I volunteer part time but I've never managed to hold down a full time job. I wasn't asked to do it (as I can't claim UC because of my partner's income) but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

    Total waste of time. Advisers didn't seem to understand what my challenges actually are, sometimes recommending nothing and sometimes recommending random solutions or services. They were very interested in filling in updates and forms but nothing of value was achieved.

    They suggested that "Brain in Hand" thing to me, which to someone demand avoidant feels like someone breaking into your house screaming. Oh well, at least I can laugh about it now. I wish other members of this site were so lucky.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Neil
    · 16 days ago
    I read online that the transition for existing LCWRA claimants onto the new system won't begin until 2029, is this true? Does anyone know wether or not I read correctly 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 12 days ago
      @HL I can see that it could be useful to have a written record you can produce when needed, rather than have to explain something on the spot, which I'm guessing might be difficult with long Covid. I don't think I'll be doing it, as I'm not sure it would be psychologically beneficial to monitor myself that closely - not for an extended period anyway. I hope it works for you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      HL
      · 12 days ago
      @tintack Thanks for getting back to me. I plan to give it go - it might help, especially to get clearer on symptom / energy patterns. I sometimes find it challenging with Long Covid to explain it clearly - because it’s so up and down.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 12 days ago
      @HL The health journal might not be a bad idea, though like you I'm not keen on monitoring myself to that degree. However, putting out information which is clearly wrong is really not good.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      HL
      · 12 days ago
      @tintack She does offer a rather helpful Health Journal where you can track your symptoms.
      I’m not super keen on the idea of monitoring myself (time and energy-consuming). However could be helpful, especially around assessment times, in order to give an accurate picture - especially for those of us with fluctuating conditions.

      Any thoughts / ideas on this from anyone much appreciated.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 13 days ago
      @John
      "I would not rely on Justice Journals for information. To put it politely they are frequently mistaken in what they state."

      I think I've just discovered that for myself. I found one of her videos in which she states that people in the severe conditions group will be constantly reassessed, even though pretty much the whole point of that group is that the people in it will never have to be reassessed. If she's getting something like that wrong I would be very wary of anything else she says, no matter how well intentioned. Best to stick with news articles on the Benefits and Work site, which we know are trustworthy.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    cat
    · 17 days ago
    iam a 63 with disability with physical and Mental health problems thay have contacted me 2 times for this crap to go to the job centre  to help me fined  work unless thay have a magic wand to make me  healty with no pain and problems walking more than the nhs or doctors and for me not to take all the tablets that i have to take what a joke
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    LD
    · 18 days ago
    The main barriers to work listed by participants were:

    Mental health issues 48%
    Musculoskeletal problems 21%
    Autism 4%
    Heart, blood pressure, blood circulation problems 2%
    Learning difficulties 2%
    Other 22%

    These are not barriers to work on their own. While it is true there are people with these conditions who will have co occurring conditions that make working more difficult, this does not take into account the following all of which require review rather than putting the sole responsibility on individuals:
    Inflexible Systems: Rigid 9-to-5 office requirements can be a significant barrier. While remote work and flexible scheduling have increased participation for people with disabilities, a "return to office" trend in some sectors is viewed by experts as a threat to these gains.
    Recruitment Exclusion: Traditional hiring processes, such as generic job boards and non-accessible interview formats, often exclude qualified candidates before they can even demonstrate their skills.
    The "Support Gap": While the law requires "reasonable adjustments," many managers report feeling ill-equipped to implement them effectively, leading to inconsistent support and employees feel unable to request 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 15 days ago
      @LD Certainly true of the last part: tomorrow I travel to Plymouth for another Occupational Health Assessment. Unbeknownst to my employers, I am actively seeking professional legal advice because capability meetings will be the next step from my manager...
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 15 days ago
      @LD "These are not barriers to work on their own."
      I beg to differ those conditions can all be severe enough to make people incapable of any and all forms of paid employment. And in some cases severe enough to require 24/7 care. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    ZIGGY
    · 19 days ago
    Create the jobs firstly, then see how you can help.  Now there are lots and lots of fit asylum seekers wanting to work being refused and stopped. So they're also productively inactive, costing the taxpayer. But let's look at putting a homegrown native into their grave earlier because it will save money. But will it ? No sick people, you don't need all the medical businesses making money off the back of sick and disabled people. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Debra Gardner
    · 19 days ago
    The DWP want save money they're cutting disability benefits. This work well scheme won't have the money saved by cuts spent on it . It's all a publicly stunt to make Thier evil cuts look acceptable.it will be the same as previous schemes poor success rates  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 18 days ago
      @Debra Gardner The only vacancies that seem to be available are social care, support work or NHS and alot of the new arrivals from abroad seem to graduate towards these jobs.Also you can't have disabled people working in a care home.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    rookie
    · 19 days ago
    "Ongoing health condition management". That'll be the day. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gladioli
    · 19 days ago
    This could potentially a huge waste of money and other resources. My understanding that the purpose of running a trial is so that a program can be properly evaluated and lessons learned. In this case it seems that we are being asked in effect to trust that it will work without any evidence. I agree with the comment on "bad nerves" I haven't heard anyone use that term in the last 10 years. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Graham Appleyard
    · 19 days ago
    Support includes:

    Physiotherapy for back pain and mobility issues
    Mental health interventions including counselling and psychological support
    Ongoing health condition management.

    Isn't this really what the NHS should be doing anyway? So shouldn't it be run by the NHS and remove the stigma of work harassment by the Jobcentre people. All they have to do is refer people to the NHS scheme. Just sounds suspicious to me.  

    It takes ages to see Mental health counselling from doctors anyway  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sarah
      · 13 days ago
      @Old Mother Officially they do provide these, but in practice it's endless referrals from one place to another until they find an excuse to close the case.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 18 days ago
      @Graham Appleyard Perhaps if the nhs were covering these three, there would be less people finding themselves unable to work through illness and disability. 


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Treetop
    · 20 days ago
    Thin end of the wedge.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Copycat
      · 17 days ago
      @Treetop Should be thin end of the wedgie.

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