1. Personal Support Package External partners and small employers presentation
Date: March 2017
Version: 1.0

2. Purpose of this presentation
The presentation will give:
The background to the Personal Support Package and why it is being introduced
Details of the Personal Support Package
Overview of what each measure is
These presentation slides can be used together or individually

3. Background
In the Summer Budget 2015, the Chancellor announced that the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Work Related Activity Component (WRAC) of £29.05 per week and the Universal Credit (UC) Limited Capability for Work element of £ per month will be removed from April 2017
Employment and Support Allowance
This change applies to new claimants only who make their claim on or after 3 April 2017 and are placed in the ESA Work Related Activity Group following a Work Capability Assessment, unless the claimant is in one of the ESA protected groups (see slide 4)
Universal Credit
This change applies to Universal Credit claimants who, from 3 April 2017, are found to have Limited Capability for Work following a Work Capability Assessment. They will not get the Limited Capability for Work payment unless the claimant is in one of the Universal Credit protected groups (see slide 5)
It is proposed that claimants will, as a result of the removal of the ESA WRAC and Universal Credit LCW, be issued with a letter about the changes.

4. ESA Protected Groups
Existing ESA claimants who made a claim before 3 April 2017
Claims made on or after 3 April 2017 which are backdated to before 3 April 2017
Existing ESA claimants who have a further Work Capability Assessment (re- assessment) after 3 April 2017 and are placed in the Work Related Activity Group, even if they move from the Support Group to the Work Related Activity Group
Claimants who have a break in their claim and come back to ESA within 12 weeks and their original date of claim is before 3 April 2017
Claimants that are placed in the ESA Work Related Activity Group following a Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal and that claim was made before 3 April 2017
Claimants who claimed ESA before 3 April 2017 and their ESA was terminated due to receiving Maternity Allowance - who then make a repeat claim for ESA within 12 weeks of their Maternity Allowance ending
Incapacity Benefit Reassessment claimants - if they are moved into the ESA Work Related Activity Group after 3 April 2017

5. Universal Credit Protected Groups
The change will not affect, for example:
Existing claimants who are getting the limited capability for work payment in Universal Credit before 3 April 2017
Existing Universal Credit claimants who make a claim before 3 April on the grounds of having a health condition or disability and are later found to have limited capability for work following a work capability assessment
Existing Universal Credit claimants who have a work capability assessment or review after 3 April 2017 and are assessed as having limited capability for work – this include claimants who were previously found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity and who, following that review, are now found to have limited capability for work.
Existing claimants who made their claim to Universal Credit before 3 April and are found fit for work, who request a mandatory reconsideration or appeal and are then found to have limited capability for work.

6. Background
The Improving Lives: The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper was developed jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health and sets out this Personal Support Package for people with health conditions and disabilities
We want people with health conditions and disabilities to have the same opportunity to benefit from the positive effects that work can have, focusing on what they can do instead of what they cannot
The Government has announced a new Personal Support Package that will deliver tailored support to people through jobcentre work coaches. This package will start from Spring 2017
Two new elements to the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim process are also being introduced for new ESA claimants:
The ESA mandatory health and work conversation will support claimants with health conditions at an early stage in their ESA claim
An ESA Claimant Commitment that will align the ESA new claims process with the Universal Credit model

7. Personal Support Package
The Personal Support Package is a range of support that will:
Be voluntary for eligible people
Give people having limited capability for work the opportunity to access personalised support to help them move closer to work
Give specific groups with particular needs, targeted and tailored support, for example young people or those with mental health conditions
Expand and improve the quality of support we offer so we can help people with fewer barriers move towards work
Give employers the ability to help those with health conditions progress into work and to be able to recruit people with confidence
Give DWP evidence of what works, particularly for claimants with complex barriers to work
Anyone who is placed in the ESA Work Related Activity Group or is found to have limited capability for work in Universal Credit on or after 3 April 2017 and who is not eligible for payment of the Work Related Activity Component or the additional amount for having limited capability for work is eligible for the support

8. Personal Support Package
New Initiatives
Small Employer Offer
Journey to Employment (J2E)
Mental Health Training for work coaches
Community Partners
Changes to contracted provision
Work Choice
Work and Health Programme
Specialist Employability Support (SES)
Access to Work
Proofs of Concept
Jobcentre Plus led Specialist Employability Support (SES)
Specialist Advice (ESA claimants affected by the Work Related Activity Component changes only)
Local Supported Employment
Young Persons Supported Work Experience
Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) intensive support
Small Trials are known internally as ‘Proofs of Concept’

9. Personal Support Package
Employment and Support Allowance claims process – new elements
ESA Health and Work Conversation
ESA – Claimant Commitment
Work and Health Unit Trials
Group work
C-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Employment advice in Improving Access to Psychological therapies (IAPT)
Health-led trials

10. Personal Support Package - eligible claimants
Claimant Group
ESA WRAG
ESA Support Group
UC LCW
Community Partners 
Small Employer Offer
Journey to Employment Job Clubs
Work Choice
Work & Health Programme
Specialist Employability Support
Access to Work
JCP Led Specialist Employability Support 1
Specialist Advice 1
Local Supported Employment 1
Young Persons Supported Work Experience 1
Intensive WRAG Support Trial 1
ESA Health and Work Conversation and Claimant Commitment - not included in the slide as claimants are not placed in these claimant groups until after their WCA.
ESA Support Group claimants continue to be eligible for AtW, but are not eligible for the Personal Support Package extra 1000 places.
Mental Health Training for work coaches – not included in the slide as the training is for work coaches to give them the knowledge and confidence to support claimants with a mental health condition.
Work and Health Unit Trials – not included in the slide as the trials are only in some areas of the country. Eligibility and referral routes will be strictly defined in each case, depending on the requirements of each trial. 
1 Proofs of concept