Pandemic ‘ forcing more disabled workers into unemployment’

The pandemic is set to push more disabled people i nto unemployment, a report has warned.

Disabil i t y c harit y S c ope said demand for its personalised employment services has "surged" by 230 per cent in the past year.

Its research suggested that one in two unemployed disabled people are concerned about their job prospects for the rest of the year and more than a third fear being made redundant.

James Taylor, Scope's executive di r ector of s t r at eg y, i mpact and social change, said: "Our Support to Work service is seeing unprecedented demand from disabled jobseekers. It is getting results, proving a highly personalised and flexible approach is needed now more than ever to help disabled people find and stay in work.

"As the national furlough scheme ends and the reality of recession takes hold, we urge the government to replicate this model, rather than continue with sanctioning and punishing disabled people, pushing them further away from the workplace.

"I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e up c oming Welfare Green Paper leads to be a better welfare system that enables disabled people to live independently.

"Coronavirus and its economic fallout could cause disastrous damage to disability employment."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We understand this has been a par t i cularly challenging time for disabled people and we remain committed to supporting them.”