How does Rishi Sunak’s press release affect Access to Work?
Introduction
In a recent announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined plans to significantly change the UK’s welfare system. These changes aim to reduce what he problematically calls Britain's ‘sick note culture’ and would hope to get most people who are currently on benefits back to work.
This blog post will clarify concerns about whether the proposed changes in Rishi Sunak’s press conference would affect the Access to Work (ATW) scheme.
First things first, Access to Work is a government grant designed to help people with a disability or health conditions maintain employment. Many people confuse ATW with benefits, but they are two different things. Unlike benefits that give people financial assistance, Access to Work focuses on giving you practical support at work.
Overview of the press release
On 19th April 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed several changes to the UK's welfare system, focusing on overhauling how sick notes are issued and shifting the responsibility for health assessments from GPs to specialised work and health professionals. According to the Prime Minister, this reform is not cutting benefits but would instead aim to support individuals who are currently out of work due to health conditions. Rishi Sunak would want people on benefits like Universal Credit (UC) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to find ways to get back to work by looking at what they can do with ‘proper support’, rather than what they can't.
Let’s break down how Rishi Sunak’s proposed changes to disability benefits could affect Access to Work grants, how people apply for them, and how support is awarded.
Will ATW be affected by Rishi Sunak's benefit reform?
No, Access to Work will not be directly affected by the proposed benefit reforms announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on 19th April.
Although Access to Work is managed by the Department of Work and Pensions, it is not part of the benefits system.
proposed Welfare Changes and Access to Work
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's recent proposals aim to reform parts of the welfare system, particularly around how sick notes or medical certificates are issued and used. While these changes are significant, it's important to clarify how they relate to Access to Work.
Fortunately, ATW should remain largely unaffected.
‘Sick Note Culture’
One of the Prime Minister’s key points revolves around how sick notes work. Luckily, even if the proposed changes go ahead, these changes should not bring much change for ATW applicants.
ATW does not require a sick note or a medical diagnosis for eligibility. As the ATW application itself says, ‘You do not have to be medically diagnosed with a health condition or disability to be eligible for Access to Work support.’
This means that any modifications to how sick notes are issued or perceived will not impact the way ATW works. Although ATW’s case managers may ask for supporting evidence for your conditions, it is rare that they do so, and even then, these don’t have to be special medical certificates or sick notes. For example, corroborating evidence from people who know you are suitable in these cases.
Rishi Sunak’s review of the fit note system
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the fit note system would see an overhaul. His proclaimed goal? According to him, it would be to stop seeing people as ‘not fit for work’ and instead create a system that explores what an individual can achieve with the right support.
At its core, these statements closely align with the core mission of ATW, which is to assist people with health conditions or disabilities in entering, staying in, or returning to work by providing the necessary support to manage their conditions effectively. ATW already operates under the premise that with the appropriate adjustments, many individuals can thrive at work. Therefore, while the government's review aims to reform disability benefits and the roles fit notes play in them, ATW would remain a key player in making employment accessible and sustainable for those with disabilities. This aligns perfectly with the newly proposed focus on what individuals can do with appropriate support, rather than what they cannot do.
Mental health and ATW
In his press conference, the Prime Minister specifically mentioned the significant proportion of people currently categorised as economically inactive due to long-term mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
Despite the fact his statements feel like he is actively trying to withhold support from people with mental health conditions, it’s important to note that you can certainly get an ATW grant if you have a mental health condition like depression or anxiety.
Fortunately, even as the government seeks to cut disability benefits, ATW serves a critical and distinct role in helping individuals with mental health conditions remain in or return to the workforce. So while the Prime Minister’s comments are controversial, luckily for ATW applicants, his vision of the proposed welfare reforms complements the way ATW already operates. Because of this, it is very unlikely that the mental health support provided by ATW would be directly impacted.
Is Rishi Sunak wrong about benefits?
While we've noted that ATW remains unaffected by the proposed changes, the press release itself does raise significant concerns. The rhetoric used by the Prime Minister, particularly the focus on targeting the benefits system to ‘those who need it most’, implies a judgment about the current recipients of benefits. The language used throughout the press release is unfair and dehumanising to people with disabilities, suggesting that they do not deserve the support they receive.
Are Rishi Sunak’s benefit reforms realistic?
The government's intention to redesign the system for faster and more specialised support sounds promising, but anyone familiar with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) might be sceptical. The DWP is already stretched thin, with the simplest administrative tasks taking far longer than they should. For example, ATW has a service level agreement to reconsider cases within 14 working days, yet they are currently processing requests from as far back as February 2024. That is almost triple the promised time.
If the government wishes to reduce welfare spending by rolling out a system where people currently on benefits will receive quick, targeted, and helpful support, that is completely unrealistic with the DWP’s current capacities. In fact, I know that some people don’t apply to ATW at all because they know that by the time they effectively start receiving support, it will be too late for them (for example, they would already be struggling at work too much that they would have to stop working).
There is a significant gap between the government's promises about the DWP’s ability to support people in a timely manner and the reality of their execution.
Have your voice heard: Participate in the consultation
The Prime Minister also announced a call for evidence to gather insights from diverse backgrounds about how to improve support for people with health conditions in the workplace. If you have concerns about the proposed changes or want to ensure your voice is heard, I encourage you to participate in this consultation. You can read the full call for evidence here, or skip to the action and submit your responses to the call for evidence here. The deadline for submissions is 8th July.
Conclusion
In this blog post, I hope I could detail the reasons why ATW would remain unaffected by the recent press release by the Prime Minister. Despite the sweeping proposals to overhaul the benefits system, ATW, a distinct government grant, should remain unaffected. This is now more important than ever as ATW plays an essential role in supporting people with disabilities or health conditions by providing necessary workplace accommodations, thereby enabling successful employment.
ATW stands apart from the benefits system, focusing on empowering individuals to start, stay, and succeed in their jobs by offering practical support that is tailored to their unique workplace needs. It's designed not just to get people into work but to ensure they can perform effectively and inclusively within their roles.
If you've had experiences with ATW or concerns about how potential changes in welfare policies might affect you, please share your stories. Your insights are invaluable in continuing to advocate for a system that genuinely supports those it serves. If you have any questions or need further clarification on ATW and how it operates independently of the proposed welfare changes, feel free to reach out.
Your voice, thoughts, and feelings matter. Share your stories, respond to the call for evidence, and together, we can hope to protect that vital systems like welfare benefits and ATW remain robust and responsive to the needs of all who rely on them.
