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Ramped up support for people on sickness benefits

ended 22. September 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions has redeployed 1,000 specialist Jobcentre staff so every Jobcentre in England, Wales and Scotland now has “Pathways to Work” advisers offering voluntary skills and employment help to people on sickness benefits—specifically those in Universal Credit’s LCWRA group (limited capability for work and work-related activity). The government aims to support 65,000 people this financial year, says more than 10,000 have already taken up the offer, and will signpost claimants to programmes such as Connect to Work and WorkWell as part of its Plan for Change, according to the official announcement here. With more than 2.8 million people signed off long-term sick – one of the highest rates in the G7 – the redeployment is part of the Government’s plan to get Britain working again and deliver an 80% employment rate by overhauling Jobcentres, tackling economic inactivity through local plans, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning.

  • Will voluntary support tackle the UK's long-term sick problem, one of the highest in the G7?
  • Are Jobcentres equipped to offer meaningful skills pathways at scale?
  • Could targeting the LCWRA group risk people feeling pressured despite the “voluntary” label?
  • How should WorkWell (health + employment support) integrate with NHS services locally?
  • Is the goal of an 80% employment rate credible?

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Editor
Kate Underwood
Founder & Chief People Strategist at Kate Underwood HR and Training
If you’re sick, the last place you want to end up is a Jobcentre. You walk in and the first thing you see are security guards—it feels more like a prison than a place for support. Sticking in a few more advisers under a shiny new label doesn’t magically make them trusted or approachable. People with complex health conditions need advisers who are properly trained and equipped to deal with their cases, otherwise it’s just the same old system with a new badge. Without real NHS integration, proper investment in health services, and employers stepping up with genuinely flexible roles, this risks being more about political targets than real change. And let’s be honest—no amount of rebranding will fix the trust gap unless people actually feel supported, not pressured.