Employment and Support Allowance National Association of Welfare

Employment and Support Allowance National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers 6 th June 2008 Phil Bartlett Programme Director Jobcentre Plus

The case for change q 72% of customers have received incapacity benefits for over 2 years, and are more likely to die or reach retirement age than return to work. q But, 80 -90% of people making a claim for incapacity benefits want and expect to get back to work. q After decades of low expectations for customers of incapacity benefits, we are now serving second and third generation benefit customers and we want to end this q Opportunities are there to help more of our ill or disabled customers move towards work: • 18, 500 new vacancies reported to us every day. • Over 600, 000 vacancies. • Labour Market inactivity is lowest since 1992. q So need is for a gateway to work……. ……… not a gateway to benefit.

A gateway to work q Our goal is to reduce the numbers of working age people who are dependent on benefit, and to continue to close the employment gaps between different groups. q For the vast majority of us work is the best form of welfare both now and for our future; and q Work has a positive impact on: – Personal well being – Social inclusion – Long term health – Our families, our children and our communities

And, everyone is supported q Customers with the most severe disabilities or illnesses (those who have been assessed as having limited or no capability for work related activity) will: • receive the basic allowance and a support component which is not subject to activity conditions or sanctions; and • on a voluntary basis, be able to take appropriate steps towards work. q Those with a terminal illness will be fast tracked onto the main phase basic allowance and support component

Employment & Support Allowance q Employment and Support Allowance forms part of the Welfare Reform programme. Fits within the key principles of ‘work for those who can, support for those who cannot’; q Available from 27 October 2008 for new applications from customers with a health condition or disability. Replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support (on basis of incapacity) subject to Incapacity Benefit linking rules; q With the new Work Capability Assessments and building on the success of Pathways to Work…. Employment and Support Allowance offers a work-focused regime to support customers back into employment where that is possible.

Employment & Support Allowance q An integrated Allowance comprising contributory and income related benefits q A 13 week assessment period q Access to new medical assessments • Assessing the customers capability for work related activity q A main phase from the 14 th Week comprising • A revised award of the Allowance to include work-related activity or support group components q Access to personal advisor for work focused interviews q Access to condition management and work focused activity support

Employment & Support Allowance Extra premiums where appropriate First contact by customer Work related activity component 13 week Assessment Phase during which a Work Capability Assessment will be undertaken and Work Focused Interview action initiated. Support component Main Phase Sanctions applied in this phase only Allowance set at Jobseekers Allowance level

Where do we start? q By focusing on the positives rather than negatives, on our customers capabilities rather than their incapacities. q We will be helping customers to focus on what they can do, helping them to get where they can be, and offering more support to them on their journey. q We have designed a service with fewer handoffs, more ownership of the case, less prescription on the data gather stage, less duplication for staff and customers, and more relevant and helpful medical assessments.

Employment and Support Allowance How will it work? Weeks from initial claim ~ 1. 5 weeks 0 weeks Customer Contact ¶ Identify customer, reason for contact and claim type ¶ Data gather ¶ Issue evidence request, Customer Statement and Housing/Council Tax Benefit Claim Form. Evidence Handling and Verification Handle Limited Capability for Work Outcome Weeks from initial claim ~ 13 weeks Limited Capability for Work Report ~ 2. 5 weeks Decision Making, Payment and Notification. Work Capability Assessment ¶ Medical Services activities. ¶ Capability Assessment. From 4 weeks ~ 9 weeks Work Focused Interview ¶ Initial ¶ Subsequent Work Focused Health Related Assessment

What will be different for customers? q Customer focus built in from start: • integrating contributory and income-related elements makes for simpler, speedier processing of customer’s financial needs § a new customer account management system re-uses data. Less repetition of information, so quicker application process § an individual work focused health related assessment and greater access to personal advisors, and condition management and work support programmes q Making the most of telephony for faster, more accurate processing, no forms to sign and an 0800 number for new applications. q Other contact channels available where needed

Some things will be familiar q Linking arrangements q Special rules for people with terminal illnesses q Permitted work q Passporting arrangements q Decision making and appeal process

Focusing on capability q Work Capability Assessment will use updated mental and physical health assessments, including the interaction between physical and mental health q It incorporates a Work Focused Health Related Assessment to look at what the customer can do, not just what they cannot do, and identify any health barriers to work q The health assessment report will be sent to the customer and their Personal Adviser and will be used to support the work-focused interviews q The Personal Adviser will be able to refer customers for a package of employment support, training and assistance in managing their illness or disability

Implementation q Employment and Support Allowance represents the biggest welfare change since Jobcentre Plus was formed – so we want to get it right! q The new service will be available Nationally from October 2008. q Phased introduction of the supporting business and IT systems and processes and using a Trailblazer site to ensure a smooth national implementation q No impact on customers in other areas – differences only in how we handle and record customer information. q Pathways to Work is available Nationally and Local Employment Partnerships delivering more opportunities for customers today.

The implementation challenge q Tight timescales and overlapping activities q New business and IT systems and processes q Maintaining existing performance and customer service levels q Other important change activity competing for resources

Meeting the challenge q The highest level of commitment and priority q Managing the amount of other change activity over the next 2 years q Building on success and experience q Paving the way and phasing the deployment of new systems and processes q Considerable investment in training and backfill

Working Together We are listening to and engaged with: q Our customers; q Policy and Operational Colleagues; q Our suppliers and delivery partners; q Other Government Departments and Local Authorities; and of course q Customer Representative Groups

Customer Representative Groups q Working group established of Customer Representative Groups (of which NAWRA is a member) to consider what communication needs exist in the Customer Representative Groups community to support: § the smooth introduction of Employment and Support Allowance § you in your day to day roles; and § crucially, our shared customers to achieve their hopes and aspirations.

Thank You Any Questions? phil. bartlett@jobcentreplus. gsi. gov. uk Telephone: 0113 2324718