DWP confirms new £1bn-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ for disabled people
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it is rolling out a £1 billion-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ alongside a £240 million employment drive to help more disabled people find and stay in work
The Government says the new scheme will help disabled people to find and stay in work(Image: peplow via Getty Images)
The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) has confirmed it is rolling out a £1 billion-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ alongside a £240 million employment drive to help more disabled people find and stay in work.
Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson outlined a series of measures that will help improve employment levels among disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
In a written response to DUP MP Jim Shannon, who asked ‘what steps are being taken to boost disability employment, the DWP Minister highlighted a mix of existing support schemes and new long-term funding commitments designed to join up health, skills and job support.
£240m ‘Get Britain Working’ drive
Dame Diana said the ‘Get Britain Working White Paper’, launched in November 2024 and backed by £240 million, is aimed at tackling economic inactivity across the UK, reports the Daily Record.
The strategy focuses on people who are out of work due to health conditions or disability, with DWP arguing that “good work is good for health”.
Under the plans, disabled people and those with health conditions can access support including:
- Work Coaches in Jobcentres
- Disability Employment Advisers
- Access to Work grants for practical workplace support
- Employment Advisers embedded in NHS Talking Therapies
- Individual Placement and Support in primary care
- The WorkWell programme
The DWP also confirmed it is rolling out ‘Connect to Work’, a supported employment programme aimed at disabled people and those facing more complex barriers to employment.
£1bn-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’
Dame Diana also referenced proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which set out plans for a new Pathways to Work Guarantee. The guarantee is expected to be backed by £1 billion a year in additional funding by the end of the decade.
Once fully rolled out, the DWP said it anticipates the offer will include:
- A personalised support conversation
- One-to-one caseworker support
- Ongoing engagement
- Access to specialist long-term work, health and skills support
Dami Diana stated that the goal is to provide tailored assistance for disabled individuals and those with health conditions who are claiming out-of-work benefits.
Linking health and employment
The department also highlighted the UK Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, which aims to better integrate health services with employment support.
Under the proposals, local health services will collaborate more closely with job and skills systems to address the “multiple complex challenges” that can prevent individuals from entering or maintaining employment.
The Employment Minister noted that this cross-system approach acknowledges that barriers to employment often go beyond a person’s condition and can encompass broader social and economic factors.
The UK Government has consistently emphasised increasing levels of economic inactivity associated with long-term illness.
For disabled individuals already navigating the benefits system, the crucial question will be how these promises translate into practical, accessible support on the ground.