Publisher's Synopsis
This document details responses to the Government's consultation paper published in November 2002 (Cm 5690, ISBN 0101569025) on proposals to encourage people claiming incapacity benefit (IB) to move back into employment. It describes the key features of the new measures, costing about 100 million pounds, which are part of the Government's welfare to work strategy and which will be piloted in seven Jobcentre Plus areas starting from late October 2003. These include: more skilled adviser support combined with action planning during the early stages of a claim, closer linking of work-focused interviews (WFI) and Personal Capability Assessments (PCA), partnership working between Jobcentre Plus and local NHS providers, and a new return to work payment for those moving from IB into work. It also explains the role of other key stakeholders, such as GPs and employers, in helping to keep people with health problems in the labour market.
