Nine out of 10 of Work and Health Programme (WHP) participants (88 per cent) have not obtained a job outcome’ according to new official statistics.
A job outcome is defined as work with earnings above a threshold of 16 hours per week for 26 weeks at the National Living Wage, London Living Wage or Real Living Wage, or having completed six months in self-employment.
The WHP replaced the mainstream Work Programme and the specialist Work Choice scheme for disabled people, but with a significant cut in its funding.
The programme launched in England and Wales between November 2017 and April 2018. Its participants are predominantly disabled people, as well as long-term unemployed, and certain priority groups (early access groups) with the aim for them to enter into and stay in work.
The Disability group is voluntary for disabled people as defined in the Equality Act 2010.This is the main group that the WHP is aimed at.
The Long-term unemployed group is mandatory and is for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit claimants who have reached 24 months of unemployment.
The Early Access group is voluntary and aimed at people who may need additional support to move into employment and are in one of a number of ‘priority groups’ - including homeless people, carers, care leavers and refugees.
Despite the WHP being targeted at people who with specialist support are likely to be able to find work within 12 months, 88 per cent of participants who had started up to August 2018 did not achieve a job outcome.
* Read Work and Health Programme statistics to February 2019 here
* Disability Rights UK https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
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