Monday 17 Oct 2022 @ 13:10
Department for Work and Pensions
Printable version

£6.4 million boost for employers to support disabled people

New online service will give employers the tools they need to empower and encourage disabled employees and those with health conditions.

  • Drive to create more inclusive work environments and equip employers with advice on how people from all backgrounds can thrive at work and grow the economy
  • Businesses and disability groups invited to test and shape new service which supports employers to employ more diverse and inclusive workforces

Thousands of businesses across the UK will benefit from a new £6.4 million online service to help employers better support disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace.

The early test version of the Support with Employee Health and Disability service provides essential information about supporting and managing employees with disabilities or health conditions at work.

Any employer can access the service, which provides free advice on how to manage staff who may be in or out of work with a disability or long-term health condition in a user-friendly online Q&A format.

The service is aimed at smaller businesses, many of which do not have in-house HR support or access to an occupational health service and will help them to build more diverse and inclusive workforces.

The new service also covers potential changes an employer could make to help them return to and stay in work, supporting a government drive to boost numbers of people in employment and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to benefit from being in work.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Claire Coutinho said:

Since 2017 we have seen one million more disabled people in work, beating our target by five years. Now we want to go even further by giving more employers the tools and information they need to ensure disabled people and those with health conditions can succeed in the workplace.

As the new Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, there is no end to my ambition to build on the success of the Department by making sure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else to start, stay and succeed in work.

The site is currently in test mode, with businesses and disability groups invited to have their say through a short online survey, to help shape the future of the service.

The site will be constantly updated and improved over the next three years, informed by feedback given from the survey

The service has been designed to give employers easy access to the advice they need to create the best environments for their staff with disabilities or long-term health issues, so that anyone from any background can start, stay and succeed in work.

Once fully developed, the service will also help employers understand their legal obligations, including how to make adjustments for disabled people and those with health conditions.

Over the next three years, the government will invest £1.3 billion in employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions. This money will go towards building up existing provision, including expanding employment support, to grow the economy and help people with the cost of living.

Further Information

  • The new online service is a direct response to the government’s 2019 consultation, ‘Health is everyone’s business’, in which employers asked for joined-up advice on supporting health in the workplace that is easier to find and act upon.
  • The Support with Employee Health and Disability service is available online here - Support with employee health and disability – GOV.UK (dwp.gov.uk)
  • The website is the first public version of the service and is part of an almost £6.5 million (£6.428 million) programme of work to help employers support and manage employees with disabilities or health conditions.
  • The latest figures show the number of disabled people in employment has increased by 1.3 million since 2017, delivering on a government goal to see one million more in work by 2027.
  • The 10-year employment goal was a government manifesto commitment originally set in 2017 to break down barriers for disabled people and those with health conditions and to build more diverse and inclusive workforces.

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 0115 965 8781

Follow DWP on:

Channel website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Original article link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/6-4-million-boost-for-employers-to-support-disabled-people

Share this article

Latest News from
Department for Work and Pensions

£1.5 Million investment to improve in-work health services as part of government drive to tackle inactivity

15/04/2024 12:10:00

Reforms to occupational health services will be shaped through a £1.5m innovation fund, as the government continues its drive to tackle in work sickness and boost economic activity using new technology and artificial intelligence.

Working parents on Universal Credit set receive up to £20,872 a year in childcare support

10/04/2024 16:20:00

Parents on Universal Credit can now receive up to £1,311 more a year in childcare support following a 6.7% boost coming into effect, as the government’s expansion of free childcare for working parents delivers 150,000 places in a week.

Fraudsters behind £53.9 million benefits scam brought to justice in country’s largest benefit fraud case

10/04/2024 14:15:00

A group who stole over £50 million of taxpayers’ money has been brought to justice in the largest ever benefit fraud case in England and Wales.

Government reaffirms commitment to backing pensioners with £900 rise to state pension

10/04/2024 10:10:10

The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

Half a million more benefit claimants set to benefit from back to work support as Universal Credit expands

10/04/2024 09:20:00

Half a million people claiming old benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit, unlocking all the work support it offers.

New guide published to help businesses boost disabled people’s prospects at work

09/04/2024 12:20:00

A new Disability Confident guide for managers helping them recruit, retain, and foster the progression of disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace has been published today by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

£5 billion in support for energy bills paid this Winter

05/04/2024 15:25:00

An estimated £5 billion in support has been paid throughout Winter to help families with energy costs.

New laws to cut migration and put British workers first in force

05/04/2024 12:12:00

Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.

Flagship youth employment programme hits one million milestone

21/03/2024 11:25:00

New figures show DWP’s flagship jobs support programme for young people has now been taken up over a million times, as the Government continues its drive to get people working and grow the economy.