New approach

Social protection – not exclusion

Spinning people round in a circle of statistics is no answer

DWP  Figures  2008  -­‐  2013  

4.3  million  claims  

made  since  Oct  2008  

2.4  million  claims  

ended  since  Oct  2008  

ESA hasn’t worked

6  Million      caseload   4.1  Million  

assessments  

1.2  Million  appeals  

 

1.4  Million    ‘fit  for  work’   0.7  

million  reclaims  

No economic benefit

2.6  million  claimants  2008  

2.45  million  

claimants  2014  

 -­‐  150,000  

ReducEon?  

ESA related job outcomes

4,000,000  (4  Million)  Work  Capability  Assessments  

10,760  job  outcomes  for  new  ESA  claimants  (0.25  %)  

980  Job  outcomes  for  incapacity  /ESA  claimants  

60  Job  outcomes  for  Incapacity  /ESA  claimants  with  a    mental  health  problem  

New approach has done the sums

 In  most  incapacity  benefit  /ESA  cases  the  claimant’s  doctor  was  right      

 2.6  million  on  incapacity  prior  to  ESA    

 1.22  million  tested  for  ESA  

 0.98  million  qualified    

 0.25  million  found  fit  for  work  by  DWP    

 0.13  million  appealed          980  job  outcomes            

                         0.22  million  reclaimed  incapacity  benefit          

A new approach is the only way

Abolish  the    WCA  

Claimants need the right support

You  can’t  tell  what  a  person’s  limita>ons  are  just  by  looking  at  them  

A  need  to  recognise  all  barriers  

A  full  support  package  

A  new  approach  to  assessment    

A  new  in  and  out  of  work  credit  

Early stage exclusion for those who are too unwell

Certain  condiEons  are  automaEcally  excluded    

The  GP  can  indicate  exclusion  on    the  ‘MED  3’  fit  note  

A  help  line  for  exclusion  cases  is  available  to  all  GP’s      

All  exclusion  cases  receive    maximum  support    

Four Way Assessment

The claimant has their say

The claimant’s clinician provides

their opinion

An independent

HCP provides an

overview

Employability is considered

 

A new four way assessment process

Claimants are assessed flexibly

Claimants  can  apply  for  personal  limitaEon  based  credit  (LBC)    

 LBC  ranges  from  0%  to    

100%  paid  in  or  out  of  work  

On  top  of  any  basic  personal  allowance  when  out  of  work  

Most claimants with a limitation are able to apply for LBC

LBC can be paid to working age claimants who are seeking work or who are unable to seek work

More compatible with modern labour market challenges

Grouping and tick box testing doesn’t

work  

Flexible  intelligent  assessment  is  the  way  forward    

“The  problems  surrounding  growth  in    incapacity  for  work  claims  have  been    with  us  for  more  than  3  decades.        The  soluEon  isn’t  to  be  found  in  more    45  minute  Eck  box  tesEng;  we  need    blue  sky  thinking  revolving  around  a    completely  new  approach”        

The  claimant  isn’t  just  a    naEonal  insurance  number  

 They  state  what  they  see  as  their  full  range  of  limitaEons  

 Where  unable  to  do  so  they  consult  a  support  assistant  within  The  advice  sector    

The  claimant’s  doctor  completes  a  much  more  

informaEve  fit  note  indicaEng  if  exclusion  applies  and  the  areas  where  the  claimant    is  most  likely  to  have  a  

problem  

The  DWP  &  Work  Programme  providers  have  to  consult  with  trained  Disability  Employment  Advisers  to  assess  how  the  claimant  will  cope  in  the  

workplace  

Independent  occupaEonal  healthcare  assessors  

objecEvely  overview  the  evidence  (carrying  out  a  face  

to  face  assessment  if  necessary)  and  jusEfy  their  

recommendaEon    

ImparEal  decision  –  makers  draw  up  a  statement  of  

limitaEon  &  awards  limitaEon  based  credit      

   

An assessment which looks at the person rather than the politics….

Jill…. “At last, they’ve really started to show they

understand me”

The statement of limitation

Statement  of  LimitaEon        Dear  Jill.  You  recently  asked  us  to  consider  your  limitaEons.    We  have  carefully  considered  the  following:   • What  you  have  told  us • What  your  doctor  advised  us • The  advice  we  received  from  an  employment  adviser   • The  advice  of  an  independent  occupaEonal  healthcare  professional  We  have  decided  that  you  are  reduced  in  your  capability  for  work  and  can  award  you  a  Personal  LimitaEon  Based  Credit  of  75%.    This  means  you  are  enEtled  to  £30  per  week  which  is  paid  on  top  of  any  other  benefit  you  receive  and  also  in  addiEon  to  any  wages  you  are  paid  if  you  find  work.    This  is  an  important  documentaEon  which  you  should  show  your  doctor  and  (if  in  work)  your  employer.    They  may  be  required  to  make  certain  adjustments  to  improve  your  prospects  of  finding  work  or  staying  in  work.      Please  see  the  rest  of  this  lejer  for  more  informaEon.

     

Jill  feels  more  reassured  by  a  statement  which  recognises  her  limitaEons    

Jill  know  she  can  get  her  personal  credit  both  in  and  out  of  work  

The  statement  means  her  doctor  has  to  look  at  gekng  her  much  needed  help  

An  employer  has  to  make  adjustments  for  Jill’s  75%  limitaEon  

Flexible assessment 0  –  24%  may  not  result  in  payment  but  may  lead  to  non  –  financial  support-­‐  claimant  

is  expected  to  seek  /  prepare  for  work  

25  –  49%  results  in  payment  as  well  as  non  financial  support  –    claimant  is  expected  to  prepare  for  work  

50  –  74%  results  in  payment  as  well  as  non  –  financial  support  –    claimant  is  expected  to  prepare  for  work    

75  –  100%  results  in  maximum  support  –  claimant  can  chose  to  prepare  for  work  with  no  mandatory  condi>ons  aJached    

   

How it works for Jill

Jill  has  mul>ple  health  problems  including  early  age  arthri>s,  an  ea>ng  disorder  and  severe  anxiety/depression.  She  has  many  problems,  wants  to  work  but  hasn’t  been  able  to  since  leaving    school.    

Jill  is  ini>ally  assessed  at  100%  and  receives  maximum  credit,  her  statement  of  limita>on  also  recommends  she  receives  a  programme  of  counselling  and  aids  to  improve  her    mobility.      

With  the  appropriate  support,  Jill  starts  to  overcome  her  ea>ng  disorder,  anxiety  and  depression.    Her  progress  is    reviewed  and  her  credit  reduces  to  75%  reflec>ng    the  improvement.    She  feels  ready  to  take  on  work.    

In  >me  Jill  feels  able  to  take  on  work.    She’s  reassured  because  she  knows  she  will  keep  her  credit  which  can  be  paid  on  top  of  her  wages.    She  feels  beJer  about  the  level  of  support    she  is  receiving.      

How flexible credits work    Although  LBC  is  awarded  in  increments  of  25,  50,  75  &  100%  -­‐  it  is  ‘tapered’  to  reduce  in  payment        by  units  of  10%  -­‐  providing  the  claimant  with  a  gradual  decrease.  

 LBC  taper  can  be  increased  as  well  as  decreased  to  provide  for  situa>ons  where  the  claimant  suffers  a  set  back.  

As  the  claimant’s  LBC  reduces,  the  employer  receives  an  incen>ve  subsidy  for  employing  someone  with  reduced  limita>on.    This  is  subject  to  a  full  appraisal.    

There  is  an  equal  duty  on  the  DWP,  healthcare  providers  &  employers  to  work  towards  integra>ng  claimants  in  to  work  when  possible  and  to  ensure  that  claimants  who  are  not  able  are  excluded  from  assessment  without  fear  of  sanc>on.    

A new approach worthy of investment

   

Jill  never  thought  this  was  achievable  

Jill’s  employers  are    delighted  with  her  

End “New  Approach  is  commijed  to  working  with  the  disabled  community,  advice  sector  and  representaEve  bodies  to  find  a  viable  alternaEve  to  the  Work  Capability  Assessment.        Based  upon  a  specialist  knowledge  of  the  UK  welfare  benefits  system  we  have  provided  our  second  stage  proposals  and  now  welcome  feedback  from  interested  parEes  to  enable  us  to  take  these  forward  to  Parliament.”      Nick  Dilworth  –  co  founder  of  New  Approach    In  partnership  with  Jane  Bence,  Rick  Burgess  &  Wayne  Blackburn