All Articles
5 min read
The ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper & Disabled People
Written by
Sam Cleasby
Published on
November 27, 2024
On November 26, 2024, the UK government released its Get Britain Working White Paper, described as introducing the “biggest employment reforms in a generation.” Today’s post takes a look at the White Paper and how it may affect disabled people in the UK. We know about the Disability Price Tag that means disabled people are already £1010 a month worse off than a non-disabled person. It is one of the reasons that we created Purpl, to try and offset these costs through exclusive disabled discounts, but we also care deeply about the disabled community and want to talk about all the issues that we are facing. So, let’s break down the White Paper and see what it means for us.
Reforms
A focus of these reforms is to enhance support for disabled individuals, addressing the barriers they face in securing and maintaining employment. While it promises transformative changes to the nation’s employment system, disability activists are voicing skepticism about the depth and sincerity of the measures aimed at supporting disabled people. Many see these reforms as a continuation of policies that have historically failed to address systemic barriers.
Launching the White Paper, Secretary of State, Liz Kendall MP said:
“To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working again. Our reforms will break down barriers to opportunity, help people to get into work and on at work, allow local leaders to boost jobs and growth, and give our children and young people the best opportunities to get on in life. The Get Britain Working White Paper shows that this Government stands unashamedly for work. We will make sure everyone, regardless of their background, age, ethnicity, health, disability or postcode can benefit from the dignity and purpose work can bring.”
Transforming Jobcentres into a National Jobs and Careers Service
A cornerstone of the White Paper is the transformation of existing Jobcentres into a National Jobs and Careers Service. This new service aims to shift from merely managing benefit claims to actively assisting individuals in developing skills and advancing their careers. By providing personalised support, the service seeks to better cater to the unique needs of disabled jobseekers, facilitating their integration into the workforce.
The government claims this shift will focus on helping people build skills and advance their careers rather than merely processing benefits. However, activists argue that the systemic failures of Jobcentres, long criticised for punitive practices, cannot be solved with a name change.
“This rebranding exercise does little to address the toxic culture disabled people face in accessing employment support,” said a spokesperson for Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC). “Disabled jobseekers are often treated as numbers to be managed rather than individuals with rights and potential.”
Integration of Health, Skills, and Employment Support
Recognising the complex and unique challenges that disabled individuals often encounter, the White Paper emphasises the integration of health, skills, and employment support. This holistic approach is designed to address the multifaceted barriers to employment, ensuring that support is tailored to individual circumstances. By aligning health services with employment initiatives, the government aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for disabled jobseekers.
Critics warn that such measures could lead to increased surveillance of disabled individuals under the guise of support. Disabled People’s Organisations worry that what starts as ‘help’ often turns into pressure to take unsuitable jobs, regardless of an individual’s health or circumstances. Without meaningful investment and safeguards, this will only increase the anxiety of disabled people navigating the system.
Expansion of Mental Health Support
Acknowledging the significant impact of mental health on employment, the White Paper outlines plans to expand access to mental health services. This includes deploying additional staff to reduce waiting lists in areas with high levels of inactivity. By providing timely mental health support, the government aims to assist disabled individuals in overcoming challenges that may hinder their employment prospects. Campaigners argue that the promised reforms lack substance. Plans to hire additional mental health staff and reduce waiting lists are welcome but inadequate given the scale of the problem.
Youth Guarantee and Skills Development
The introduction of a Youth Guarantee ensures that every young person has access to education or training opportunities. This initiative is particularly beneficial for young disabled individuals, offering pathways to develop essential skills and enhance employability. Additionally, the transformation of the Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy, backed by £40 million, aims to expand opportunities for skill development among disabled youth.
Though youth services for disabled people have long discussed the difficulties in accessing education and training, without addressing systemic ableism, the concern is, that it won’t create meaningful change and opportunities for our disabled young people.
Empowerment of Local Authorities
The White Paper empowers mayors and local councils to tailor work, health, and skills support to the specific needs of their communities. This localised approach allows for the development of targeted strategies that address the unique challenges faced by disabled individuals in different regions, promoting more effective and inclusive employment support.
Activists fear that devolving responsibility will lead to inconsistent support across regions, exacerbating inequalities.
Commitment to Reducing Economic Inactivity
With over 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness, the White Paper underscores the government’s commitment to reducing economic inactivity. By implementing these reforms, the government aims to create a more inclusive labor market, ensuring that disabled individuals have equitable access to employment opportunities.
Disability groups worry that this could lead to punitive measures reminiscent of Work Capability Assessments, which have long been criticized for being dehumanizing and harmful.
“The government’s obsession with reducing economic inactivity frames disabled people as a ‘problem’ to be fixed,” said a spokesperson from Inclusion London. “We need genuine opportunities, not policies that push us into unsuitable work or strip away our benefits.”
The Bigger Picture: Structural Change Needed
Dan White policy and campaigns officer and one of the leads at the Disability Poverty Campaign Group said: “We know many Disabled people wish to work and moves to provide more targeted and tailored support are welcome. However, the threat of a spring Green Paper, that proposed cuts to the benefits bill is very concerning. Disabled people living on social security are struggling to meet the basic costs of food, energy, medication, social care, transport and housing. Pushing us into even deeper poverty will not provide us with a route towards employment.”
Critics argue that the White Paper sidesteps the root causes of disabled people’s exclusion from the workforce, such as employer discrimination, lack of accessible workplaces, and systemic underfunding of disability support. Whilst disabled people may welcome the focus on supporting into work, there needs to be a commitment to enforcing disability discrimination laws and an investment in accessible infrastructure. Without meaningful structural change, the government’s proposals risk perpetuating the cycles of marginalisation and economic inequality that disabled people have faced for decades.
If you would like to connect with other Purpl members and talk about how this may affect you, join the private Facebook members group and meet like-minded people, you can also gain access to the newest discounts, deals and competitions.
Related Articles
Revolutionary Help for People With Disabilities: Disability Union Alliance
The ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper & Disabled People
Budget 2024: Key Areas for Disabled People
