Guardian news article, 24 October 2016: Employment support cuts could affect 45,000 disabled jobseekers, says report
Association warns schemes set to replace current government programmes are dramatically smaller
Fewer disabled people will have access to specialist employment support due to a “massive gap” between the government’s rhetoric and reality, a report warns.
A study said proposed cuts in funding mean that 45,000 fewer disabled people will have help finding a job.
The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) said schemes set to replace the government’s flagship employment programmes will be dramatically smaller.
Disabled jobseekers facing dramatic fall-off in support
Number of disabled people receiving specialist help to fall by 50% after 80% funding cut to new work programme
The trade body for firms providing government employment schemes said damage caused by funding cuts could worsen if European Social Fund support is not fully replaced beyond 2020.
The size of the new programmes means that 45,000 fewer disabled people will be allowed on to specialist employment provision in each remaining year of this parliament, said the ERSA.
Chief executive Kirsty McHugh said:
“The size of the new work and health programme means only one in eight disabled people who want to work will have specialist help to do so.
“As a society, we have an obligation to ensure that appropriate support is available and today’s report shows that we are in danger of failing disabled people and their families.
“We know that good-quality frontline provision can provide help to more disabled jobseekers, but only if it is given the funding to do so.
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“Turning the government’s plans into more than words would be good for businesses, communities, disabled people and the economy – let’s make sure it happens.”
Matthew Oakley, director of WPI Economics, which conducted the study, said:
“If the government is serious about its ambitions on disability employment, it needs to take bold action now.
“A vital first step should be to reverse decisions made by the previous chancellor and double the number of disabled people with access to specialist employment support in this parliament.
“Although this will not alone halve the disability employment gap, it will send a clear signal of the government’s intent and could lead to 30,000 more disabled people in work and net benefits to the exchequer of £280m.”
The report was published ahead of the work and health green paper.
