The Department for Work and Pensions is making a rule change to a number of benefits from today (April 30). New legislation means getting a job won’t automatically trigger benefit reassessment for claimants on new-style Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit (UC).
Known as “Right to Try”, the new rules are part of Government efforts to help sick and disabled people enter the workforce and boost living standards. It is backed by a £3.5billion investment in “tailored employment support” by 2030.
Disabilities minister, Sir Stephen Timms, said: “We are determined that disabled people should have the confidence to try work. Our ‘Right to Try’ legislation will come into force on Thursday.
“People claiming can take steps towards employment and be confident that doing so will not automatically trigger benefit reassessment.”
The DWP said Right to Try means volunteering will not automatically lead to a reassessment either.
It said the scheme supports people to test their ability to work in a “safe and predictable way”, adding: “It strengthens existing protections for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
“Information about work (such as the type of work) may still be considered in future assessments if it is relevant to the level of functional ability.”
Right to Try applies to people who get PIP and UC who have been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA).
It also applies to those on New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA) who have been placed in the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group.
People who get both UC and New Style ESA and have a single LCW or LCWRA assessment outcome are also included.
Sir Stephen said: “There is an urgent need to address the big rise in the number of young people not in work, education or training that took place before the last general election.
“We think better support might help young people more than extra cash.”
He said a review by former health secretary Alan Milburn on young people who are not in education, employment or training will report in September, the Birmingham Mail reports
The minister added that the Government will wait until then to decide whether to delay access to the UC health element until the age of 22, but said if that were to happen, there would need to be exceptions.