The government has announced a new initiative aimed at enabling individuals with disabilities to explore employment opportunities without the anxiety of losing their benefits. However, advocates for disability rights caution that the proposed measure falls short in addressing the underlying challenges of hostile working environments.
On Thursday, legislation was presented to parliament that will prevent automatic benefit reassessments for individuals who begin work or engage in volunteer activities. Many disabled individuals have expressed that the fear of losing their financial support has deterred them from seeking employment.
Sir Stephen Timms, the minister responsible for social security and disability, explained that many individuals feel “stranded in the benefits system” and are hesitant to pursue work due to concerns about their benefits. He stated, “We are implementing this policy to provide reassurance and alleviate fears, as it is evident that many wish to work but are held back by the potential loss of support.”
He also noted that the initiative extends to volunteering, which often serves as an essential first step towards employment, but many have refrained from it due to apprehensions about their benefits. Timms acknowledged, “While this is a positive step, we will need to do more than what is currently outlined in this legislation.”
The new policy, termed the “right to try,” is set to take effect at the end of the month and will be applicable to recipients of employment and support allowance, personal independence payment, and the health component of universal credit.
While disability advocates have welcomed the announcement, they believe it does not sufficiently address the broader issues that hinder disabled individuals from securing jobs. James Taylor, a director at the disability charity Scope, described the policy as “a step in the right direction that could eliminate a significant barrier for those wanting to enter the workforce.”
Nevertheless, he emphasized that numerous obstacles remain, including inaccessible workplaces, inflexible job structures, inadequate support, and negative employer attitudes. Taylor urged the government to enhance investment in tailored employment support for disabled individuals venturing into the job market and to avoid further reductions in benefits, which exacerbate poverty rather than promote employment.
According to research by Timewise, a nonprofit organization focusing on flexible working, only 2.5% of economically inactive individuals due to long-term illness or disability manage to return to work annually, with over 50% of these jobs lasting less than four months.
Mikey Erhardt from Disability Rights UK pointed out that these alarming statistics underscore the necessity of a secure right to try, ensuring that individuals attempting work can retain the same level of support as before if their efforts do not succeed. He added that disabled individuals seek additional government assurances that the right to try will not result in them being classified as new claimants or necessitate reapplication.
This policy announcement coincides with a contentious reduction in the health element of universal credit, which is set to be halved and frozen for new claimants unless they meet more stringent requirements.
Timms, during a visit to a job center in Walthamstow, north-east London, remarked that the previous system compelled individuals to aim for a classification of being too unwell to work. Staff at the job center noted that claimants had been completing their work capability assessments earlier to qualify for the higher benefit amount.
Disability advocates expressed concern that the reduction would adversely affect individuals already facing financial difficulties. Erhardt commented, “In these uncertain economic times, we are witnessing a reinforcement of policies that have consistently failed to support disabled individuals. For too long, governments have viewed social security not as a safety net for those in need, but as a mechanism to push disabled individuals into employment. This perspective has always been illogical.”
He further stated, “The modifications to the universal credit health component signify that hundreds of thousands of disabled individuals will endure yet another decline in their living standards.”
