Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash has welcomed the Government’s new Back to Work Plan, helping people across Erewash to stay healthy, get off benefits, and look for and stay in work.
Building on the ambitious £7 billion employment package announced earlier this year, the Chancellor will outline a new Back to Work Plan in his Autumn Statement, expanding employment support and reforming the ways that people with disabilities and health conditions interact with agencies.
As part of the plan, four key programmes – NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support, Restart and Universal Support – will be expanded, benefitting up to 1.1 million people over the next five years and supporting those with mental or physical health conditions into employment.
Maggie commented:
Having a good job is essential for people across Erewash. Not only does it improve living standards and boost our health, self-esteem, and wellbeing, but it also helps our local businesses by giving them the workforce they need to grow.
This is why I am delighted that the Government has set out their new Back to Work Plan, building on our proud track record of getting four million more people into work since 2010. The package of measures will help over a million people into work and give everyone the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
This Government is making long-term actions to help more people into work, ensuring that work always pays, boosting living standards and growing our economy.
The WorkWell service announced at the Spring Budget has been formally launched and will support almost 60,000 long-term sick and disabled people to start, stay and succeed in work across 15 areas in England.
Stricter benefit sanctions will also be enforced by the Department for Work and Pensions for people who are able to work but refuse to engage with their Jobcentre or take on work offered to them. Benefit claimants who continue to refuse to engage with the Jobcentre will face having their claim closed. Other measures being explored include trial reforms to the fit note process to make it easier and quicker for people to get specialised work and health support.
The Back to Work Plan is part of wider package of measures to grow the economy expected in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.
