The Chancellor has confirmed that he would set aside £400 million for musculoskeletal and mental health support.
According to Hunt, a £3 million pilot programme will help people with special needs make the transition into the workforce.
The government is releasing a white paper today (15 March) on the reform of disability benefits.
The Chancellor said the work capability assessment would be eliminated, allowing disabled individuals to look for employment without worrying about losing their support.
To assist disabled people in finding employment, a new project dubbed “universal support” will be launched. The programme could assist up to 50,000 people annually and will cost up to £4,000 per person, according to Hunt.
Commenting on the move, Jeff Middleton, head of employment, education and pensions at Hill Dickinson, said: “Long Covid has led to rising numbers of workers becoming ‘long-term’ sick, so it’s great news that supporting them back into work is a key priority for the government. Small employers want to do the right thing by their staff and having government-backed occupational health support will be a huge help.”
