There are strong indications in the Get Britain Working White Paper that Labour is going to either scrap the work capability assessment (WCA) or alter it almost beyond recognition.  There now seems little  likelihood that the Spring Green Paper will simply propose minor changes to WCA activities and descriptors in order to reduce the benefits bill.

In yesterday’s White Paper, Labour argued that their aim is to create a system that “moves away from binary categories of fit for work, or not fit for work, meaning people do not need to demonstrate they are too sick to work to access financial support”.

The current WCA is entirely set up to assign people to three categories:

  • fit for work
  • not fit for work, but fit for work-related activities
  • not fit for even work-related activities

It is hard to see how Labour’s stated aim is compatible with keeping the WCA in anything like its current form.

There are other strong hints in the White Paper that major changes are being planned.

The document argues that the current health and disability benefits system does not promote employment because:

  • it is designed around gateways to benefits, not conversations about goals or access to support;
  • it rigidly categorises people as either able or unable to work, instead of reflecting the complex reality and fluctuating nature of people’s health conditions;
  • it leaves people judged unable to work without further support or engagement;
  • it involves lengthy and complex processes that can be hard for people to navigate, with multiple assessments and too many disputed decisions.

The White Paper goes on to argue that:

“The current system focuses on assessing capacity to work instead of on helping people to adjust and adapt to their health condition. It misses opportunities to work with people to identify what kind of support could make work possible for them.”

Labour say that they want to fundamentally reform the system so that:

  • is simpler to navigate;
  • is trusted by people who use it;
  • focuses on preventing people falling out of work;
  • moves away from binary categories of fit for work, or not fit for work, meaning people do not need to demonstrate they are too sick to work to access financial support;
  • empowers people to feel able to engage with employment support and try work without fear of losing benefit.

Some of these aims, such as “simpler” and “trusted”, sound like politicians’ soundbites, which can easily be claimed without tangible evidence.  But moving away from categorising people as fit for work or not fit for work and allowing claimants to try employment without fear of losing benefits are much more tangible and will require genuine and radical reform.

So, we still have no information about what the changes to the benefits system will be, but it is clear that real change is coming and some of it may even be positive.

However claimants will not forget that, at the heart of any reforms, is a commitment to meet the cuts the conservatives have already imposed for the coming year and a longer term intention to reduce the rising cost of benefits.

In the end, as always, the reforms will be more about trying to save money than they will be about empowering claimants.  But, as history has repeatedly demonstrated, radical money-saving welfare changes very often end up backfiring spectacularly.

You can download the Get Britain Working White Paper here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 days ago
    ''Those with mobility impairments will have to undertake mandatory work search activity and be subject to conditionality and sanctions. Those in the substantial risk group will not have mandatory work search activity'


    This was sent out by DPAC.

     Is this true? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 days ago
    I am 6 months into working after decades of being out of work.  I had no support back into work despite being on PIP (highest both) and LCWRA.  I paid for my own retraining and had so many interviews.  Easy to get them but I feel I was just a tick box exercise with no intention of employing me.  It was so demoralising at times.  Finally I got a job but on minimum wage (despite my level of skills) and employed 18 hrs but with a full time workload, the joys of WFH!  Has my health suffered, yes, I have to have monthly inpatient treatments, not allowed on working days.  I can’t get time off for appointments.  Could I be financially better off not working, yes!  However, I love the job I do, I love feeling that I make a small difference.  There has to be a better way to help people like me, surely?!  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 days ago
    Guess once more our only value is in what money we can make for someone else, no matter how little. Work will set us free I suppose.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 days ago
    Surely, all they need to do is to say that people with permanent disability will have the guaranteed income they are eligible for under PIP, and that any income from work will only replace their benefit income £ for £, so that people can try and re-enter the world of work without the stress and anxiety that their income may suddenly fall to ZERO if they are unable to cope with work and need to fall back onto disability support.
    It is the ALL or NOTHING aspect that is so difficult for people with disabilities that prevents any attempt to re-enter the world of work - going back to the beginning and having to reapply for PIP from scratch with no income is a terrifying prospect for permanently disabled people.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 days ago
    I am currently on PIP for mobility issues and my husband is my carer. He has applied for UC and because we are a couple it is being done jointly. I don't work since 2013 being medically retired. I have to go to a WCA. The PIP assessment was bad enough and I had a total meltdown. I am not looking forward to it.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 days ago
    I have undergone this WCA this year following the passing of my Husband and have been categorised as working limited capabilities. I get the enhanced amount of UC. I used to get Carers Allowance for looking after my Husband but I phoned them on his day of passing and told them straight away I was no longer eligible. They gave me an appt at the local jobcentre that Friday.
    Following the decision of this outcome I have also had to undertake my PIP review of which I am still awaiting the answer . Deadline was 4th July and I am still waiting, it is still in the basket waiting to be looked at.
    My argument is that they need to change employers attitudes on disability and also train the jobcentre Disability Advisors, many of who do not even know what Epilepsy is. I have told them straight if they do not know what it is they should not be sitting behind the desk in the Jobcentre.
    Latest statistics on Epilepsy is that 42% of employers will not take anybody on with Epilepsy. They need to look into this first before changing anything related to benefits as it is not our fault that we are like we are.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 days ago
    Sounds to me like scrapping the support group
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 days ago
    I'll keep it short any politician that tells you they are going to 
    EMPOWER you is either self deluded at best or at worst Liars
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 days ago
    61  NOW had works accident / INDUSTRIAL  Accident  8 % disability for life , 38 yrs back . damadge to spine . NOW  2024 , had recent mri scan xrays . 2ND  degerative changes for life . TREATNMENT  pain releif no cure, MOBILITY  cant stand upright 1, 2 min shuffle with walk stick MAX 20 METERES out sitting  .   I   tryed spinal epijural  injections no joy . PAIN  treated amptrilyn. BUT  seductive  slow realease ok & night to get sleep rest,   if taken early 7/ 8 pm . . NOT  so good in day as causes fatituie  drowsyness . PASSED  uc 50 wca  awarded LCWRA .  PAYED  so far 42 yrs class1 ni/ tax (PAYE) CANT  claim state oap to 66 .   SUerly if awarded LCWRA   NOW/ 2023/ 2024    DWP / LABOUR 2024 .  Cant alter the goal post ????? .  TRY  push , bully  us  folk age 60/ 65 yrs old  WITH LONG TERM DEGENRATIVE  disabilitys back to work place ????? . WE certainly not going inprove , get better .  JUST  have to see what  green   papers  says next spring .   
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 days ago
      @Arthur THE  other  thing LABOUR  been mostly talking  about  younger  folk  esa  support group/   UC  lcwra . WITH  mental health issuies , sort term   disabilitys . NOT  older folk  60-65  with degenrative for life condtions  & mechanical  disabiltys  long term want get better but worse = degerative .  JUST  want except  some people unfit  for work / work  realated  activity  .   
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 days ago
      @adrian Hi Adrian I went through the same kind of physical problems you have I genuinely hope things get better for you. The struggle you describe with pain inadequate medication and just getting through a day was my experience fortunately for me an operation helped. I hope you find something that will help you.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    I believe that the white paper is not bad as most of us expected but that does not mean the coming changes will not hurt some of us.

    Furthermore, the number of people aimed to benefited from the tailored support mentioned in the white paper for mental health problems are 140000 which counts less than 10% of people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, for example, so I believe that the support are for those who have self diagnosis or diagnosed with mild forms of mental health conditions like mild depression and anxiety.

    This government has been very clear that the coming changes are not for improving the living standards of disabled people but to make savings and after following these changes news since the hated consultation I think it is likely that DWP will rely more on the conditions itself rather than how the conditiions affect the person to fliter out those who have self diagnosis from PIP like Germany.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 days ago
      @The Dogmother Sorry for your loss 💔
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 days ago
      @The Dogmother I totally agree dogmother,I am such a  person,I have had panic disorder, agoraphobia, anxiety and severe depression amongst other things for 27 years,it has lost me 2 jobs,rendered me totally isolated,lost me my friends,made it impossible to see parents in hospital.it has had a profound impact on me being able to eat at home or around others, given me a choking phobia and eating disorder and that was after being told I had dysmotility, I could not handle the diagnosis because it won't ever change,the anxiety I have over eating anything is crippling and I can't even eat infront of my husband because I can not swallow every mouthful and some has to be spat out into a beaker when a bolus does not form and I'm unable to swallow it,it would be impossible for me to work with all that going on and I am afraid of ending up losing my esa because I can not engage in work
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 days ago
      @Sadly Simon Unfortunately people see mental illness as the new bad back So do not treat it with the compassion it might deserve 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 days ago
      @MrFibro No I remember many years ago telling my manager I had a scan booked at hospital so I needed to take a couple of hours from my 12 hour shift at most. The answer I got was he hadn't seen me limping so no.
      Kind of learnt then that trying to be fair with employers to try to do your best does not work. Afterall I could phoned in sick had a week off because single days off were somehow worse and could get you written warning. So to expect employers in this day and age to make allowances for health conditions is nonsense. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @sevenbadger Are employers going to pay a disabled worker, more wages to accommodate their illness/es and or disabilities ?  I doubt it.  As we all know disabled people need more money due to their illnesses and disabilities.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    Again, I really don’t see anything ominous here. It’s clear they’re in no rush to do much at all, and it’s going to take years. Keep the panic low. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    Most of us want the WCA to be scrapped in favor of something less cruel and more voluntary towards whether or not you want to seek work. There are many sick and disabled people who want to work, or at least take part in education and training, but current rules mean they cannot or don't want to risk it because their benefits stop the minute they take it up. Most people want to work, and that takes up a significant chunk of the welfare system, so the 'get Britain Working' slogans seem scary but they are actually true. If we continue down the same route, more people will game the system and continue to make the rest of us look bad. A new system should be implemented in a way that fairly identifies those that do not want to work and cannot work due to their health, but at least gives you the option to try something if and when you are ready to do so. it should be on you personally, not some assessor who talks to you for 45 minutes and assumes your daily life in that short time. It's going to be tricky to do such a thing, I expect Labour will try and in its early years the changes will be far from perfect, but hopefully by then most people who want to work are back in the working world, bringing down the welfare bill to a point that there will be far less antagonism towards those unfit for work. Key things have been said in statements that show that the new system will ensure the disabled always have a say and are at the core of the system, so continuing to provide input where possible is a good thing we should all try to do when we can. Let's all have some positivity and a bit of hope because the comments sections nowadays are so far from the opposite and almost fearmongering in some cases.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 days ago
      @Chris Kurtis THEY  govertnment / DWP  seem to be focused  on YOUNG & MENTAL HEALTH  INACTIVE   .  THE  other side  . coin .  UR  age    61  have  degenrative  for life disability  want get better . 2ND  degenrative changes  start stenosis . CAUSE  was works industrial accident 38 yrs back 8 % disability  life  . NOW 2024  treatnment pain releif no cure .  & 61  SPINE / DISCS  L5/ L4  Worn out. Backed up by MRI SCAN / XRAYS  .   Mobilty cant stand up right more 1, 2  shuffle with walk stick 20 meteres MAX,  so u CANT dont go far do much . U  passed UC50/ WCA  Claim lcwra .  UNFIT FOR WORK   SIMPLES . Govertnments cant want except this   NOW 61 - 66 RETIRE .  SURELY  labour not going force / push us back to work place. OR  expect  us  retrain for little  4/ 5 yrs ?????.   AFTER  all so far we payed 42 yrs class1 ni (paye )  over life time work . GOVERTNMENT  dont see  that . 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @bobtehbuilder I wouldn't say it's "mostly fine" at all - it isn't suited to many people who suffer from terrible anticipatory anxiety or like myself, are Autistic Spectrum and need to understand the ins and outs of a situation - in some detail, before attendance.

      My life has been derailed for several months over the years, thanks to the "process" - the system seemingly has no idea whatsoever about what many of us go through during a reassessment phase.

      So no - I must challenge your wording here.

      I do agree that frequency is ludicrous though - how many times must the system be notified about no change in condition? I understand why they does this, but in specific cases, it is utterly pointless - a waste of time & energy.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @Chris Kurtis the wca is mostly fine, the problem is when the assessor is missing out important things, lying and making stuff up etc and them using it as a tool to deny benefits to the claimant. the frequency of wca's for some people is too high and pointless.
      permitted work needs reworking and self employment permitted work needs to be made simple and easy for people who cannot handle all the details. i shall put my views on that in the consultation when it happens.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    Good grief. The comments on these news posts so often aggressively fearmonger that it’s a bit absurd.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    People feel  scared and worried at all this but its going to take a few years that's even if things get passed and the pilots work and  if you look back through history this isn't new the governments have failed loads some of what is coming out is is an updated version of what was said in the  90s the fact that it's going to take til spring shows that charities have got input and with other things going on the government can't ignore like the Tories wanted to and every one who can  will have to answer to the consultation next year not just over 16000 the government seem to be making everyone jump these consultations the reforms are just a stunt that won't last .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @Lill We'll probably die from a world war, pandemic, or something climate change related before it is implemented, so try not to worry
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    Again, comments such as "Labour are going to make life even more unbearable..." what good do these kind of comments make, apart from make those with mental health conditions even more worried and their anxiety/depression even worse.

    Mental health illness is serious, and could lead to those on the edge taking their own life.  Can we try and be a bit more positive in how we phrase things as this could be a matter of life and death for some, and for something which will not even be talked about until next Spring!!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 days ago
      @bobtehbuilder this is not toxic positivity.  People can prepare anyway but discussing things in a "doom and gloom" manner makes people with severe anxiety issues even worse, as I said and it can be serious.  Someone above pointed out, the Government don't seem to be in any hurry and when they do pass all this through, it will take a long time to reach us.  It is better for people not to spend the next year or two/three years in severe anxiety, until something might happen or might not.  Especially better for people with mental illness that is crippling enough without the doom and gloom naysayers.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @axab43 toxic positivity isnt needed. by people knowing whats likely to be coming will give them some time to better prepare for it instead of them not knowing for months and months and months like whats happening now and then getting a massive bombshell dropped on them.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    I wonder if anyone would like to imagine a scenario where you're forced to take depot injections due to being on a Care & Treatment Order under the Mental Health Act due to a psycotic illness. Then imagine being transferred from legacy benefits to UC where the UC50 decision wait is four months. You're not yet classed as LCWRA, so in the meantime your new work coach has carte blanche. Happening to a ladyI know right now. And her CPN reports she's not the only one. Different mob - same cull rate.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @TallBoy Poppy @TallBoy Poppy I know it’s horrible to be disabled nowadays friend of mine having cancer treatment was told to look for jobs I’m not looking forward to any of this when it’s my turn to migrate to uc it’s all about just getting the numbers down lcwra might not even exsist soon will just have to wait what the new system is all about 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    It should go back to a time where, if a Doctor signed you off sick long term - that was accepted!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @Hazel Thiss would be way too logical, and would save bilons, which ATHOS and mates have to have!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    Scrap the wca scrap the icw/lcwra have one universal health element which will be most likely for certain groups like specific neurologist condition which are incurable progressive conditions also terminal conditions and severe Mh conditions will qualify for group. Pip reform will just have high rates only so this will save billions and give disabled people the comfort we need and stop all the bullying we don’t need most if us disabled people already work 24/7 365 days a year trying to live and coping with our condition rant over thank you for taking time to read my opinion 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    I expect any new scheme will be administered by the 25,000 DWP Work Coaches who have gained notoriety for the standard of their " work ". It is not surprising when you consider that the minimum qualification needed to be a DWP Work Coach is a GCSE pass in English and a GCSE pass in Maths.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @David No, there are no minimum academic qualifications, such as GCSEs, required to become a work coach for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They don't even need to have a single GCSE.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    If you haven't been able to adjust or adapt to multiple conditions in thirty-forty odd years at least, what are they going to do to help you do that? Will they stop me passing out multiple times when I'm having bouts of ibs that last at least four daysin a week off an on?Will they stop my vertigo when meds don't? And I spin in circles until I fall, Or stop me throwing up because of my coeliac disease and control my pain so I can sit upright long enough to do anything? Fix the mind numbing fatigue, Just a few of my conditions ,not all.Jeez things are bad now for the NHS, they'll be crippled if we are forced to do things that exacerbate our health.
    Must think we all live charmed lives of supreme Joy because we don't work. Sorry no ,we don't. 
    But here,let's sit tight and see where it all leads. What they want and what they get might be two different things.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 days ago
      @The Dogmother As I said to my husband I would like my local Labour MP and  Starmer to spend a couple days in my house in my shoes and let’s see how they would cope 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @The Dogmother @The Dogmother. Totally agree, all the grief we go through on a daily basis can really get you down, then all these reforms just set’s my anxiety on another level and they wonder why most of us have metal health problems because we never know where we stand with the goal posts moving around.

      Wish you all the best and we all get through this ordeal.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @T I've known nothing but ill health for so long like so many others on here it "Is" my life. If I get two- three decent days a month I'm laughing.  I genuinely feel for us all. I wish I'd a solution,a way of telling the powers that be we are not pretending, nor are we living our best lives. They need to hear us, they need to believe it when we say we suffer. Thanks @T, you too. X
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @Sick and tired. Yup.. I've two lifelong heart conditions too. Things that last decades or life long don't seem to be enough for us to cope with. They like to shovel on more misery. I never smoked or drunk alcohol in my life, I've nothing against it, just not my thing, none of my immediate family do,but here we are or here I am. Seems like it makes little difference. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @The Dogmother Totally agree, I have IBS for over 20 years and this year as been a bad year with it and all the pain as been unbearable with the doctors just say IBS go away and I have COPD no fault of my own as I never smoked, and heart problems and the chronic fatigue is just insane.

      Days go that fast because of all the rubbish health I go through everyday like yourself, that it seems I am just existing and not living and all these so-called reforms are going to help us, I don’t think so, but we will see what comes I reckon.

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