Incapacity BenefitA Work Programme Perspective

East London Primes

Hackney EDN Event 17 April 2012

• Eight customer groups, four of which relate to ESA/Ex-IB.

• Two-year support journey to sustained employment.

• Individual support pathways with intervention and support services built into journey.

• Favourable sustainment periods.

• ESA/IB groups attract higher funding for increased support.

Work Programme Overview

Work Programme in Hackney

• Three prime contractors in Hackney, each with supply chain partners – specialists and generalists.

• Increasing ESA/Ex-IB caseloads, though still well below initial forecasts.

• Initiatives for voluntary referral to increase flows.– Group taster session functions

• Current volumes– Around 150 customers from ESA Flow

Work Programme GroupsCustomer Group Time of referral Basis for

referralJob sustainment

Sustainment weeks

Jobseeker’s Allowance customers who have recently moved from Incapacity Benefit. From three months Mandatory 13 20

All Employment and Support Allowance customers, including contribution based, andwork-related activity unlikely to be fit for work in the short term and support group customers.

At any time Voluntary 13 20

Employment and Support Allowance flow (income-related) customers who are placed in the Work-Related Activity Groupand Support Group.

At any time  When customers are expected to be fit for work in three months

Mandatory or voluntary depending on circumstance

13 20

Ex-IB Employment Support Allowance (income-related) customers who are placed in the Work-Related Activity Group and Support Group (who have recently moved from Incapacity Benefit).

At any time  When customers are expected to be fit for work in three months

Mandatory or voluntary depending on circumstance

13 26

• Referral• Induction• Planning• Interventions• In Work Support

ESA and EX-IB Delivery

• Condition management

• Mental health support

• Support with learning difficulties

• Employer support

• Assessment and treatment services (drugs and alcohol)

Support Services Overview

• Inaccurate WCA leading to incorrect benefit group allocation– Impact on jobseeker– Impact on delivery services– Impact on performance

• Changing jobseeker status

Risks

• Work and Pensions Select Committee

• Professor Harrington forum to provide support in changes to the WCA.

Strategic and Policy Activity

• Work Programme delivery includes:– strong links with existing provision for information

sharing and customer support– flexible and challenging support services, and– constant review of delivery.

• Continued influence on getting customers correctly assessed and referred.

What's Essential

Questions?

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