Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has outlined plans for a significant reform of the UK's welfare system, aiming to tackle what he describes as the country's "sick note culture."
- Shift from GPs to Specialist Professionals:
- Sunak proposes transferring the responsibility for assessing fitness to work away from General Practitioners (GPs) to "specialist work and health professionals" in England.
- Conditional Benefits:
- Individuals failing to comply with their work coach's conditions, such as refusing available job offers, risk losing their benefits entirely after 12 months.
- Call for Evidence:
- A call for evidence will be issued to healthcare professionals, employers, and individuals with lived experiences to gather feedback on the current system and suggestions for improvement.
- Cost of Benefits:
- The government highlights that the current cost of benefits for individuals with disabilities or health conditions amounts to £69 billion, projected to increase by 50% over the next four years.
- Tackling Long-Term Sickness:
- Sunak aims to address the surge in long-term sickness cases, arguing for bold action from politicians to confront the issue.
- Economic Inactivity Statistics:
- Approximately a quarter of working-age Britons are economically inactive, with 9.4 million aged 16 to 64 falling into this category.
- Record Levels of Inactivity:
- As of February 2024, a record 2.8 million people are inactive due to long-term sickness, a notable increase from pre-pandemic levels.
- Mental Health Concerns:
- A significant proportion (53%) of individuals reporting long-term sickness cite mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or bad nerves.
- Political Implications:
- Welfare reform emerges as a key issue ahead of the general election, with the Conservative Party emphasizing their commitment to addressing it.
- Professional Response:
- The Royal College of GPs acknowledges the potential for change but highlights the current practice of providing advice and support to patients before issuing fit notes.
