There are strong indications in the Get Britain Working White Paper that Labour is going to either scrap the work capability assessment (WCA) or alter it almost beyond recognition.  There now seems little  likelihood that the Spring Green Paper will simply propose minor changes to WCA activities and descriptors in order to reduce the benefits bill.

In yesterday’s White Paper, Labour argued that their aim is to create a system that “moves away from binary categories of fit for work, or not fit for work, meaning people do not need to demonstrate they are too sick to work to access financial support”.

The current WCA is entirely set up to assign people to three categories:

  • fit for work
  • not fit for work, but fit for work-related activities
  • not fit for even work-related activities

It is hard to see how Labour’s stated aim is compatible with keeping the WCA in anything like its current form.

There are other strong hints in the White Paper that major changes are being planned.

The document argues that the current health and disability benefits system does not promote employment because:

  • it is designed around gateways to benefits, not conversations about goals or access to support;
  • it rigidly categorises people as either able or unable to work, instead of reflecting the complex reality and fluctuating nature of people’s health conditions;
  • it leaves people judged unable to work without further support or engagement;
  • it involves lengthy and complex processes that can be hard for people to navigate, with multiple assessments and too many disputed decisions.

The White Paper goes on to argue that:

“The current system focuses on assessing capacity to work instead of on helping people to adjust and adapt to their health condition. It misses opportunities to work with people to identify what kind of support could make work possible for them.”

Labour say that they want to fundamentally reform the system so that:

  • is simpler to navigate;
  • is trusted by people who use it;
  • focuses on preventing people falling out of work;
  • moves away from binary categories of fit for work, or not fit for work, meaning people do not need to demonstrate they are too sick to work to access financial support;
  • empowers people to feel able to engage with employment support and try work without fear of losing benefit.

Some of these aims, such as “simpler” and “trusted”, sound like politicians’ soundbites, which can easily be claimed without tangible evidence.  But moving away from categorising people as fit for work or not fit for work and allowing claimants to try employment without fear of losing benefits are much more tangible and will require genuine and radical reform.

So, we still have no information about what the changes to the benefits system will be, but it is clear that real change is coming and some of it may even be positive.

However claimants will not forget that, at the heart of any reforms, is a commitment to meet the cuts the conservatives have already imposed for the coming year and a longer term intention to reduce the rising cost of benefits.

In the end, as always, the reforms will be more about trying to save money than they will be about empowering claimants.  But, as history has repeatedly demonstrated, radical money-saving welfare changes very often end up backfiring spectacularly.

You can download the Get Britain Working White Paper here.

Comments

Write comments...
or post as a guest
People in conversation:
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    I believe that the white paper is not bad as most of us expected but that does not mean the coming changes will not hurt some of us.

    Furthermore, the number of people aimed to benefited from the tailored support mentioned in the white paper for mental health problems are 140000 which counts less than 10% of people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, for example, so I believe that the support are for those who have self diagnosis or diagnosed with mild forms of mental health conditions like mild depression and anxiety.

    This government has been very clear that the coming changes are not for improving the living standards of disabled people but to make savings and after following these changes news since the hated consultation I think it is likely that DWP will rely more on the conditions itself rather than how the conditiions affect the person to fliter out those who have self diagnosis from PIP like Germany.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @sevenbadger Are employers going to pay a disabled worker, more wages to accommodate their illness/es and or disabilities ?  I doubt it.  As we all know disabled people need more money due to their illnesses and disabilities.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @sevenbadger ***Trigger warning***
      I feel that there are no mild forms if you are suffering from it. 
      My dear friend had a "mild form" she ended her life promptly as she felt she wasn't believed and could not take any more ,she said so in the note she left. I believed her wholeheartedly as she often told me how she felt, how low, sad,hopeless ,full of worry and fear etc. But not being believed by her GP and the benefit system tipped her over the edge. 
      My wonderful beautiful friend. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @The Dogmother
      I agree.

      I think the average person has "anxiety" of course, but within limits - a person who is driven by anxiety to the point of collapse, entirely different.

      Same with depression - just having "an off day" or week, is different to persistent low mood states.

      Same with OCD - just being a little fussy around the house, is different to having compulsive urges and hidden rituals.

      And so on.

      Of course parts of the media like to downplay the impact of mental health issues.

      Because at one time, apparently, we were all made of sturdier stuff!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @The Dogmother I did not say depression or anxiety are mild conditions but i meant the mild form of it

      Tories, for example, put those with severe depression in the severe disability group, and it was good.

      So I totally agree with you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @sevenbadger Sorry, when your anxiety and depression trigger panic attacks that make ppl think you are either drunk or insane they aren't mild conditions.  When they leech into every aspect of your daily living,they aren't mild, when you've been medicated for decades, been theough therapy they aren't mild.They disrupt sleep ,eating, socialising,thinking straight. That's half the trouble with those who are clueless. They make assumptions. 
      Then the Government rhetoric filters down to the general public who need a good old fashioned dose of it for a few years to see how it sits with them.!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 days ago
    Again, I really don’t see anything ominous here. It’s clear they’re in no rush to do much at all, and it’s going to take years. Keep the panic low. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    Most of us want the WCA to be scrapped in favor of something less cruel and more voluntary towards whether or not you want to seek work. There are many sick and disabled people who want to work, or at least take part in education and training, but current rules mean they cannot or don't want to risk it because their benefits stop the minute they take it up. Most people want to work, and that takes up a significant chunk of the welfare system, so the 'get Britain Working' slogans seem scary but they are actually true. If we continue down the same route, more people will game the system and continue to make the rest of us look bad. A new system should be implemented in a way that fairly identifies those that do not want to work and cannot work due to their health, but at least gives you the option to try something if and when you are ready to do so. it should be on you personally, not some assessor who talks to you for 45 minutes and assumes your daily life in that short time. It's going to be tricky to do such a thing, I expect Labour will try and in its early years the changes will be far from perfect, but hopefully by then most people who want to work are back in the working world, bringing down the welfare bill to a point that there will be far less antagonism towards those unfit for work. Key things have been said in statements that show that the new system will ensure the disabled always have a say and are at the core of the system, so continuing to provide input where possible is a good thing we should all try to do when we can. Let's all have some positivity and a bit of hope because the comments sections nowadays are so far from the opposite and almost fearmongering in some cases.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @bobtehbuilder I wouldn't say it's "mostly fine" at all - it isn't suited to many people who suffer from terrible anticipatory anxiety or like myself, are Autistic Spectrum and need to understand the ins and outs of a situation - in some detail, before attendance.

      My life has been derailed for several months over the years, thanks to the "process" - the system seemingly has no idea whatsoever about what many of us go through during a reassessment phase.

      So no - I must challenge your wording here.

      I do agree that frequency is ludicrous though - how many times must the system be notified about no change in condition? I understand why they does this, but in specific cases, it is utterly pointless - a waste of time & energy.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @Chris Kurtis the wca is mostly fine, the problem is when the assessor is missing out important things, lying and making stuff up etc and them using it as a tool to deny benefits to the claimant. the frequency of wca's for some people is too high and pointless.
      permitted work needs reworking and self employment permitted work needs to be made simple and easy for people who cannot handle all the details. i shall put my views on that in the consultation when it happens.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    Good grief. The comments on these news posts so often aggressively fearmonger that it’s a bit absurd.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    People feel  scared and worried at all this but its going to take a few years that's even if things get passed and the pilots work and  if you look back through history this isn't new the governments have failed loads some of what is coming out is is an updated version of what was said in the  90s the fact that it's going to take til spring shows that charities have got input and with other things going on the government can't ignore like the Tories wanted to and every one who can  will have to answer to the consultation next year not just over 16000 the government seem to be making everyone jump these consultations the reforms are just a stunt that won't last .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @Lill We'll probably die from a world war, pandemic, or something climate change related before it is implemented, so try not to worry
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    Again, comments such as "Labour are going to make life even more unbearable..." what good do these kind of comments make, apart from make those with mental health conditions even more worried and their anxiety/depression even worse.

    Mental health illness is serious, and could lead to those on the edge taking their own life.  Can we try and be a bit more positive in how we phrase things as this could be a matter of life and death for some, and for something which will not even be talked about until next Spring!!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @axab43 toxic positivity isnt needed. by people knowing whats likely to be coming will give them some time to better prepare for it instead of them not knowing for months and months and months like whats happening now and then getting a massive bombshell dropped on them.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    I wonder if anyone would like to imagine a scenario where you're forced to take depot injections due to being on a Care & Treatment Order under the Mental Health Act due to a psycotic illness. Then imagine being transferred from legacy benefits to UC where the UC50 decision wait is four months. You're not yet classed as LCWRA, so in the meantime your new work coach has carte blanche. Happening to a ladyI know right now. And her CPN reports she's not the only one. Different mob - same cull rate.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @TallBoy Poppy @TallBoy Poppy I know it’s horrible to be disabled nowadays friend of mine having cancer treatment was told to look for jobs I’m not looking forward to any of this when it’s my turn to migrate to uc it’s all about just getting the numbers down lcwra might not even exsist soon will just have to wait what the new system is all about 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    It should go back to a time where, if a Doctor signed you off sick long term - that was accepted!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @Hazel Thiss would be way too logical, and would save bilons, which ATHOS and mates have to have!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    Scrap the wca scrap the icw/lcwra have one universal health element which will be most likely for certain groups like specific neurologist condition which are incurable progressive conditions also terminal conditions and severe Mh conditions will qualify for group. Pip reform will just have high rates only so this will save billions and give disabled people the comfort we need and stop all the bullying we don’t need most if us disabled people already work 24/7 365 days a year trying to live and coping with our condition rant over thank you for taking time to read my opinion 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 days ago
    I expect any new scheme will be administered by the 25,000 DWP Work Coaches who have gained notoriety for the standard of their " work ". It is not surprising when you consider that the minimum qualification needed to be a DWP Work Coach is a GCSE pass in English and a GCSE pass in Maths.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @David No, there are no minimum academic qualifications, such as GCSEs, required to become a work coach for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They don't even need to have a single GCSE.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    If you haven't been able to adjust or adapt to multiple conditions in thirty-forty odd years at least, what are they going to do to help you do that? Will they stop me passing out multiple times when I'm having bouts of ibs that last at least four daysin a week off an on?Will they stop my vertigo when meds don't? And I spin in circles until I fall, Or stop me throwing up because of my coeliac disease and control my pain so I can sit upright long enough to do anything? Fix the mind numbing fatigue, Just a few of my conditions ,not all.Jeez things are bad now for the NHS, they'll be crippled if we are forced to do things that exacerbate our health.
    Must think we all live charmed lives of supreme Joy because we don't work. Sorry no ,we don't. 
    But here,let's sit tight and see where it all leads. What they want and what they get might be two different things.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @The Dogmother @The Dogmother. Totally agree, all the grief we go through on a daily basis can really get you down, then all these reforms just set’s my anxiety on another level and they wonder why most of us have metal health problems because we never know where we stand with the goal posts moving around.

      Wish you all the best and we all get through this ordeal.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @T I've known nothing but ill health for so long like so many others on here it "Is" my life. If I get two- three decent days a month I'm laughing.  I genuinely feel for us all. I wish I'd a solution,a way of telling the powers that be we are not pretending, nor are we living our best lives. They need to hear us, they need to believe it when we say we suffer. Thanks @T, you too. X
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @Sick and tired. Yup.. I've two lifelong heart conditions too. Things that last decades or life long don't seem to be enough for us to cope with. They like to shovel on more misery. I never smoked or drunk alcohol in my life, I've nothing against it, just not my thing, none of my immediate family do,but here we are or here I am. Seems like it makes little difference. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @The Dogmother Totally agree, I have IBS for over 20 years and this year as been a bad year with it and all the pain as been unbearable with the doctors just say IBS go away and I have COPD no fault of my own as I never smoked, and heart problems and the chronic fatigue is just insane.

      Days go that fast because of all the rubbish health I go through everyday like yourself, that it seems I am just existing and not living and all these so-called reforms are going to help us, I don’t think so, but we will see what comes I reckon.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @The Dogmother Ridiculous isn't it. But then again Keir and Liz and the rest are clearly Tories anyway.   Scumbags who think they know it all , they haven't got a clue about the real world.
       Probably want us to overwhelm the NHS even more so it will eventually have to be fully privatised and we can get the blame for that too....
         Yeah definitely you will be top of every employers list with your conditions,,,  you never know with them being so understanding and knowledgeable about your conditions maybe they might give you a little room in the back with a bed for when your feeling tired and  horrific, which is probably all day everyday...    They honestly haven't got a clue... 
       They sure picked a wonder time of the year to throw this newest worry at us didn't they .
       I hope you'll be ok :( 
         
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    If they scrap the WCA we lose even the currently inadequate access to medical professionals that currently protect us from untrained work coaches and their targets. 

    I reckon it won't be long before these untrained individuals start ignorantly generalising sick & disabled people and putting inappropriate pressure on people to attempt work. I can see it now "I have another client with agoraphobia who works from home" or "look at tje paralympians and what they can do" etc...

    There has to be some way to opt out of engagement without being subject to work focused interviews or even phone calls from work coaches, otherwise some of us are going to be in trouble.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    Not going to loose any sleep over it enjoy Xmas first then worry about uc migration next year see what happens looks like it’s going to be “duty to engage” and “everybody in” kinda thing apart from serious or terminal illness a few other comments on here I think are not far off 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    ""In the end, as always, the reforms will be more about trying to save money than they will be about empowering claimants. But, as history has repeatedly demonstrated, radical money-saving welfare changes very often end up backfiring spectacularly.""

    And there we have it.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    Go back to July and that report by Alan Milburn and Liz Kendall in Barnsley, they want everyone to "engage" even if it's once a year or every 6 months, though engagement doesn't categorically mean "look for work" or "training", it could be a heads up so to speak on how you're doing.

    Understand this, you cannot force or coerce someone who legitimately, medically verifiably cannot work into work. There will ALWAYS be people who cannot work, there always has, there is no magic wand to magic away incapacitating illnesses, diseases or disabilities. 

    We mentioned it here so many times, Depression and Anxiety sufferers will be looked at for training, CBT, group therapy sessions, social prescribing ect and they definitely want 18-25 year olds to work or train. 

    Think rationally about their plans because they can't be too outlandish. What for the people already on LCWRA? If you remember the Tories' WCA plans exempted LCWRA recipients from any more assessments until at least 2028/2029 unless they're circumstances changed.

    Most of these reforms will target future claimants. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Dave Dee They are going to target old claimants aswel for people coming to end of award they are going to scrap wca so they can put people in groups they feel are capable of work they have moved the goal posts on mobility descriptor so if you can mobiles in a wheelchair you can work its sad targeted against the wrong people but yes it is all about getting benefits bill down but they pressing ahead with it anyway I feel for everyone on here with serious problems I hate all government's for targeting disabled they should be giving a choice of getting to work if they want 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @axab43
      "money we all get now will be protected" thats just a smoke screen, to stop people protesting.  Like the mannaged miggration=managed robbery.  As we all lose the protection with time.  We have to fight back NOW.  
      "First they came for.... the New claimants,... next ....for me!"
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @axab43 Protected, until a new assesment of whatever this 'new' group will be. Its not like LCWRA  will just be left alone once its scrapped? Unless I'm mistaken of how it all works.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @Rik But again, for existing claimants money is protected, if any payments change.  It is the new people who will be on any lower rate. THis needs to be stated for those who have severe mental health conditions who will worry about these things excessively 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 days ago
      @Yup But this is scare mongering again as the money we all get now will be protected if people are on the LCWRA group.  It will probably be eaten away over the years but there is no immediate scrapping of £419!!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    To be honest there doesn't seem much point in me doing my migration to universal credit now..   Labour are going to make life even more unbearable , they have no idea of what is best for disabled people. 
      By the sound of things they simply plan to have no groups that separate disabled people from actual job seekers, they'll force us with sanctions into training and inappropriate treatments that's we have already tried over again with our own professional doctors. 
     I honestly can't believe we are still having to go through with worry and guessing games still now the Tories have gone, it's bloody inhumane and none of us deserve to life this way..
         Work is not best for everybody and I can 100% hand on my heart say that work and work preparation would finish me off. 
       Many professional psychiatrists have stated in their reports and letters of support that I am not going to improve, they have tried all they can with no improvement,,, I am dosed up on high medication morning and night,, I can not be around people (only a tiny few I trust like mum, siblings, GP and psychiatrist),, I can't go out anywhere and I can not even use the telephone to speak... Any social engagement is impossible...  And those are 'least' severe of my illnesses...
       What could these idiots possibly do to help me other than make my existence even worse.
     All I want is to live the life I do without constant panic and worry about what changes might or might not be coming next, constantly living in limbo. I just want to be left alone.
      Why can't they see that not all of us can work, I don't want to work.
     So tired of continuously having to prove that I can't live the way the government believe I should.
     I'm not the only one who will be saying that I can see only one option for me. 
     They Have not gave a mention about anybody being exempt from there plans of work and training and worse :(

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 days ago
      @T
      @T
      do not give up, get your local MP involved in your case.  You have to have someone in your corner, that will keep you safe!  You have to find a way to protect yourself.   For so many of us, the stability of our conditions is paramount, but so fragile. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    I've read the work put out by folks like Paul Gregg (the chair of the current Labour Market Advisory Board) and other policy experts, and I think the direction here is becoming clear.

    The intention is likely to scrap the LCW/LCWRA categories entirely, and have a single incapacity-benefit system that's easier to qualify for, perhaps via receiving any element of PIP. The argument being that the way things are currently structured creates massive incentives for people to get into the LCWRA group in order to receive increased financial support and avoid work-related conditionality.

    The caveat here will be that everybody is expected to engage in some way with all of the "support" the government is now beginning to put into place. In this sense, claimant conditionality and expectations will likely be much more personalized, probably along a specific set of guidelines that safeguards people from anything too onerous. I can imagine exemptions for those who are severely or terminally disabled, perhaps along the lines of the current "Severe Disability Group." Everyone else will be expected to have some form of interaction with DWP, though perhaps for many it won't be more than 6-month check in to discuss their health condition and work aspirations. All of this will likely involve a work-coach.

    For those interested, the recent thought paper by Paul Gregg gives a fairly detailed account of his thinking. Given his considerable influence on government (he also delivered the WCA reforms under Brown), as well as the soundbites in the "Get Britain Working" White Paper, I think we can be fairly sure this is the path they intend to go down.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @JC Try to read also the work of Iain Porter on this same issue. His proposals are empathetic and reasonable compared to the sadistic proposals of Paul Gregg and Alan Milburn.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @JC I warned a certain ex disability rights campaigner, who is also a Labour member, very publicly called for the end of the Support Group for ESA in 2015. Labour are listening to her; and yes we will see the UC LCWRA group scrapped.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @JC Unless it is written by the DISSABLED, for the Dissabled!   Not economists, swiping up everyone with the same old hypocrisy. We will help you, but in the mean time, stop your benefits, and make you jump over few more Tribunals..
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 4 days ago
    I do think they need to tackle the root causes of sickness, such as the state of the NHS.  If you can't even get a doctor's appointment, small issues can turn into big issues. 

    And there's little to no mental health support.  I have a range of conditions and basically get no support at all, and have asked for it for years.  It fills me with despair, I'd love to be able to do something I enjoy with my life.  But I absolutely do not want to be forced into some sort of job I hate, as it would make me much worse. 

    I'd love to be able to study and get some qualifications too, but again there's not much I can do about that.  And all this talk of change just makes me stressed and worried that what little I have will be taken away.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 days ago
      @Alex You aren't alone and there is the chance that is every work coach is coming back and saying that "x"% are having these needs which are being ignored by the NHS that will be a priority for the ICB and commissioners.
      People hate that health outcomes are linked to employability but that is why the NHS was created. After the war there were so many people ill and disabled that our ability to rebuild was severely compromised so a nationwide health scheme was designed.
      And if they could get their heads around some people only managing to work a few days a month, but they shouldn't be penalised for doing so, all the better.

Free PIP, ESA & UC Updates!

Delivered Fortnightly

Over 110,000 claimants and professionals subscribe to the UK's leading source of benefits news.

 
iContact
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.