Government plans to get long term sick back to work.

[Miley1967]

Does anyone have any information about how the Government are planning to get long term sick/ disabled back to work? I have read there is a paper being published/ announced this week. In my local area ( East Midlands) I have seen jobs advertised this week ( multiple jobs) for health and work coaches but employed through the NHS and based in Gp surgeries, so it does seem as though they are already taking steps to implement this.
Just a bit worried for some of my clients( I work in benefits advice work ) as to whether this is going to be pushed on them or if it's a scheme they will choose to be part of and just wondering what it is going to entail, will these coaches be working with employers who are genuinely going to be able to support this group of people into work?

I had to laugh at your last paragraph. Honestly that poster is something else.

No you don’t. My best friend is on PIP. Enhanced daily and standard mobility. No council tax reduction.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/27/bone-on-bone-agony-the-cruel-reality-of-facing-a-three-year-waiting-list-for-a-new-knee

Living with someone who is on the above list, I really think this could bring a large number of people back to work. I am sure there are similar number of people waiting for hip replacement physio-therapy and so on.
Yes, they can retrain or search for jobs they can do sitting. But there are not this type of job for all of them. Plus, it may well mean a reduction on wage from their previous job.
These days the retirement age is 67. Unfortunatelly, issues like arthritis, sciatica, back ache, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc, can affect individuals well before that age. Surgeries and physio will restore a good degree of mobility and wellbeing.
I do not think it is a coincidence that NHS lists have gone up and level of unemployment/ benefits claim has gone up.
It is cheaper for the country to restore them to good mobility pronto, so they can keep contributing to their original salary level, or nearby. At least, working full time.
After 3 years in a long long list, maybe unable to work, maybe lost their home, mental health issues and other related problems may arise and make the recovery much worst. Which will cost us.

No you don't. The only reduction I got was the 25% single adult discount. As soon as DP moved in (8 years ago), we've had to pay the full amount.

Someone in the Times comments below the line suggested that benefits should be earned, as they are in most of the EU. Simplistically, if you have worked, paid tax and contributions for one year, you receive 10% of your lost salary in benefits, when you've worked for eight years and paid in, then you should have 80% of your former salary in benefits, for a year or so, but time limited.

The clinic and surgery run twice a week in our major hospital.

@Papyrophile so someone working full time on NMW would only get £2300 a year? People would starve.

No, I mean that someone who lost their job would move heaven and earth to get another job fast.

@Papyrophile you may as well be honest and say you do not want poor people to have a safety net, but well paid people can get decent benefits.

Absolutely not. But the UK's finances are at a point at which it is impossible to justify borrowing money to pay benefits to people who have not paid anything in.

Okay so if they can't find work, they starve. Got it.

I wish there was a team to help people who have long term debilitating conditions to find a way to retire and still have an ok income. I've 9 years to go and know I won't make it that long but I'm very afraid of the financial pressures I would be under when I have to lose my FT salary.

@Crispynoodle , I understand your fear for the future and I sympathise. But do teach your kids that the financial pages of the paper are not kindling. In most newspapers, even the Daily Fail, they are the only truthful pages.

I am sorry to hear about your brother 💐

Luckily for me my four adult children are very financially savvy and all have a great career and income

They say they also want to look at the rocketing numbers of younger children on DLA.

Have you seen the forms you need to fill in to claim DLA? The tonnes of evidence you need to prove additional care needs? Walk in the park it ain't....

@curliegirlie but why are so many young children suddenly meeting the criteria for DLA?

Regarding young people out of work, it is nigh on impossible to access child mental health services. The longer you go without support, the worse the issues become. I speak from experience as the parent of a young person with diagnosed severe anxiety and selective mutism.

My child was not accepted by CAMHS even though a paediatrician has categorised her anxiety as severe and having a significant impact on her daily life and activities. The speech and language team assessed and diagnosed her but said there was no support available other than some videos that I could watch as a parent. I fear no employer will ever offer a job to a person who can't speak, even though she is very capable in other areas.

We need to invest in early help for young people and their mental health to prevent difficulties becoming worse. Young people who struggle with their mental health during their school years will not achieve the academic qualifications they might be capable of which will then impact their work opportunities.

My council does offer work experience placements for autistic people which I think is great. An expansion of this sort of programme for young people with health difficulties could be really helpful.

Are they? Has anyone got any links showing a big rise in child DLA claimants? I'd be really surprised if they actually reflect the uptick in children with SEN in schools, given that many are waiting for ASD diagnoses etc and a lot of people don't understand that for DLA you are eligible if you can demonstrate additional care needs, even if you haven't got a diagnosis yet.

But actually I'd be glad if more families are receiving the DLA support they need and are entitled to. SEN parenting is an often expensive hard slog.

And more on topic with the actual topic of the thread, I'd be really interested to see how/whether more investment in paid opportunities for people with learning disabilities is included in this.

My SIL has just become one

as you say her job is to be supportive and help, not force people into work. I’m not convinced the whole programme is going to be a success but she is certainly finding it useful and rewarding work

I think regarding children, there's a mental health crisis and they're not being seen soon enough which means their condition spirals.

There's an article today about lack of specialist staff due to cuts. CAMHS is also severely underfunded.

I also believe that autism diagnosis has increased exponentially.

I think something has to be done about the huge number of long term sick claiming benefits. I think I read 4m people?! That is unsustainable.

They need to address waiting lists for hospital treatment, maybe prioritise those who need treatment in order to return to work. A friend is waiting 40 weeks for neurology due to seizures, can't drive so can't work. If they don't address the issue, the number on benefits will keep rising and there's no magic money tree to pay for the benefits.

Around 3m. According to this article many people are leaving work due to mental health issues.

It's probably no coincidence that lockdown, lack of mental health resources and a COL crisis means people are signing off sick.

A medical professional only has one pair of hands. They can only see the patients in front of them

With the growing numbers waiting perhaps some sessions of group therapy, as opposed to no therapy, could be thought about.

Getting to the reasons for the huge increase in youth mental health decline might establish some common features between many patients.

Or online lessons given to many parents at once, professional lessons, that might offer some support and advice which can be practiced at home.

How could anyone forsee the huge increase in numbers of psychiatrists required? It takes years, years, to train to a level to treat complex mental health disorders.

I know people will say "my child wouldn't talk in group therapy" perhaps not, but they might listen, or not feel so isolated knowing others are facing similar.

If medical help isn't available, long waits, then perhaps teaching families so options to try can be a plug gap. Even if it is just more promotion and support for online schooling.