May dismantles IDS legacy on benefits

THERESA MAY signalled a further departure from the legacy of Iain Duncan Smith last night as ministers announced a review into how the Government helps disabled people find work.

There are fears that hundreds of thousands of disabled people who could find work are not given enough advice and support from the state.

A consultation will be launched on reforming the Work Capability Assessment, which tests if someone is fit enough to be employed, with a focus on whether to give more job advice.

Damian Green, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has warned that some disabled people are being “written off ” by the benefits system.

“A disability or health condition should not dictate the path a person is able to take in life,” he said, announcing the plan.

“No one wants a system where people are written off and forced to spend long periods of time on benefits when, actually, with the right support they could be getting back into work.”

Just 47.9 per cent of disabled people who can work are employed – well below the 74.5 per cent employment rate in the overall population.

On Telegraph.co.uk, Penny Mordaunt, the minister for disabled people, work and health, said the Government is “stepping up” efforts to address this.

In a change of tone from his predecessor, Mr Green has said there will be no new welfare cuts and scrapped repeat health tests for the most severely disabled who claim benefits.

Mr Duncan Smith, who led the Work and Pensions Department for most of David Cameron’s administration, has played down talk of a new direction and supported the announcements.

The consultation was welcomed by disability charity Scope, which said the current system was “fundamentally flawed”, amid fears from ministers that 1.5 million seriously disabled people are not getting adequate job support.

“The current fit-for-work test doesn’t accurately identify the barriers disabled people face in entering or staying in work,” said Scope chief executive Mark Atkinson. “All disabled people should be able to access expert, tailored employment support and the Government should work with employers to create flexible, modern workplaces.”