Incapacity Benefit A 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 Groups Customer GroupTime of referralBasis for referral Job sustainment Sustainment weeks Jobseeker’s Allowance customers who have recently moved from Incapacity Benefit. From three monthsMandatory1320 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 timeVoluntary1320 Employment and Support Allowance flow (income-related) customers who are placed in the Work-Related Activity Group and Support Group. At any time When customers are expected to be fit for work in three months Mandatory or voluntary depending on circumstance 1320 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 1326

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

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