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HGV training and building work to be offered to claimants with LCWRA

Details

 The government has announced that tens of thousands of universal credit (UC) claimants with limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) are to be offered support from jobcentres, including signposting to HGV driver training and on the job training in construction and hospitality.  Accepting the support is voluntary and your benefits will not be affected if you refuse.

1,000 Jobcentre staff - to be known as Pathways to Work advisers - will offer support to claimants with limited capability for work (LCW) or LCWRA.  They will be based in every jobcentre in England, Wales and Scotland and will aim to engage with 65,000 people by the end of the financial year.

The DWP say that “The offer is voluntary and will be made to LCWRA claimants via their Universal Credit journal with tailored appointments taking place monthly.“

The kind of support on offer includes:

  • being directed to Connect to Work, which provides personalised job-search assistance, employer engagement and on and off the job support, or
  •  WorkWell, which combines medical help with career guidance
  • signposting to work placed training schemes in sectors including construction, hospitality, and manufacturing
  • skills training in programmes such as IT or HGV driving.

We would stress again that there is no obligation to take part in this programme, claimants are free to simply turn the offer down.

There’s more details from the DWP here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Diceman24
    · 21 hours ago
    I can see what the government may be offering here but for many who have disabilities the HGV is way off the reach cause you need a class 1 driving license which includes a very hard medical even for able bodies who can fail the medical but than the other jobs skills might work for some people and I hope it does also has quoted by the headline is purely voluntary 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Tom
    · 1 days ago
    Some  who are  on  this benefit are there because they CANNOT  work due  to their health conditions, or  that their health  condition  would mean they would take too much time  off work  due  to their limitations
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dods
    · 1 days ago
    Good idea on paper; they must factor-in that many people simply cannot do this kind (or any kind) of work. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Boo
      · 17 hours ago
      @Dods This shows why without genuine claimants voices at the table on the Timms review what could be coming our way down the road next year. Clearly they plucked 2 jobs out of the air which are on their list of shortages to achieve economic outcomes or reduce the need for migration without a single consideration that HGV requires a medical to get such a licence and construction work is long shifts without reasonable adjustments with building sites such as building homes or major infrastructure projects will not lend itself to many of the reasons why claimants are put in the LCWRA group in the first place!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Alex
    · 1 days ago
    I have to say I think this is a good idea.  One of the problems with the current system is that there is no way out.  If you study full time, you lose your money.  If you work, you lose money. 

    Some of us could do a bit of work, some of us cant.  But for those that can, it would be nice to be able to get a skilled trade, rather than being stuck with minimum wage jobs. 

    My only worry is that they may use it against us, and say we are ok to work if we can train part time. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Matt
    · 1 days ago
    Well if you're partially sighted/blind the HGV option is a non-starter!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Idonia
      · 5 hours ago
      @Matt Or Type 1/Insulin-dependent diabetic, or epileptic, or any other kind of seizure disorder, or heart condition, or a great many other health conditions!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Boo
      · 8 hours ago
      @Matt Reply I kid you not, attending a medical to see if I was fit for work or other employment was asked why I could no longer do my job. 
      I replied that I didn’t think they had yet trained guide dogs to be able to drive heavy plant machinery.” The person who asked the stupid question said they would stop the interview if I gave any more facetious comments. I really do not know what I was supposed to say when I’ve just been registered severely Sight impaired and was adjusting to my new norm. I presume this person probably works for the DWP now or capita or other such organisation!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Tom
      · 1 days ago
      @Matt Or you already passed the HGV test and  had that  vocational entitlement on your licence, but allowed  it to expire because you cannot do he job
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    G P
    · 1 days ago
    Working in construction is, mostly, a physically demanding job. 
    Also, take it from someone who worked in that industry for nearly 30 years, it can be an incredibly unpleasant and hostile atmosphere, especially on very big sites. 
    This seems like a very strange decision to steer vulnerable people towards this type of work.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sam
    · 1 days ago
    I think it will be voluntary to begin with but sooner or later they will try and force everyone to take part. The thing is if you volunteer and take part they will then say to claimants you can work voluntary then you can do full time job. I can see where it's going. I'm in the LCWRA UC group and have been offered voluntary help to find work. But I was told by jobcentre plus adviser to be careful as you are in LCWRA UC which means you can't work so taking up any voluntary work may trigger re assessment and take me out of the LCWRA so anyone thinking of taking part be careful 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 22 hours ago
      @Sam Basically what Lemon Pie has stated. They can't suddenly make this compulsory without passing some kind of legislation and good luck getting that pass backbenchers, not to mention the courts.

      It's also just not doable from a financial standpoint either? Where are they going to get the Jobcentre staff from for everybody? There are also a lot of claimants out there who are vulnerable and have appointees. It could be considered a waste of time and money to put them through the wringer if there's going to be no realistic potential for them to work at the end of it. 

      Granted, the government clearly don't care as long as people are off benefits but if they're going to spend money on "helping the disabled find work" despite the moaning and groaning of taxpayers (who would rather the money be chucked into a pond that going on "scroungers who don't want to work"), it won't do their reputation any good if the scheme turns out to be a failure and a waste of public finances.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      DS
      · 1 days ago
      @Sam That isn’t true. You can be in the LCWRA group and be working part time. I’m one of thousands in that category. I think it’s such a shame if you feel you can’t even try voluntary work for fear of re-assessment. I find it even more a shame it’s a job centre advisor telling this.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Lemon Pie
      · 1 days ago
      @Sam Because making the offer compulsory would be extremely hard to make law and courts would soon squash it even if they managed it, you're likely correct instead they'll leave it voluntary but use it as a weapon on anyone who innocently takes it up to throw them off their legitimate claim that way.

      So I fully agree don't fall into the trap, because unlike most organisations or people this one won't have sincere motives.

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