Expansion of programme to help people back into work.
Maria Eagle MP, Minister for Employment and Learning, today announced an expansion of the ‘Pathways to Work’ pilot initiative.
This interdepartmental initiative, which will now be extended to areas in Belfast and Londonderry, is designed to help people with health conditions or disabilities move closer to the labour market or into employment.
During a visit to Newtownabbey, the Minister met staff from the local Jobs & Benefits Office and heard how the service was already being developed and implemented in the area.
Commenting on the potential of ‘Pathways to Work’ to transform the lives of people who have become dependent on welfare, Maria Eagle said:
“For most people, the best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through work. ‘Pathways to Work’ is designed to provide the support that will help many, who have manageable health conditions and disabilities, to move into employment and away from welfare dependency.
“This initiative has the potential to improve the lives of many people and their families and will benefit society and the economy as a whole.”
Announcing plans for expansion of the initiative, the Minister said:
“Resources have been made available through the Skills and Science Fund to expand the initiative to cover one third of people who make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit in Northern Ireland by the end of this year. The final phase of expansion will happen later this month when the initiative will be extended to the Falls and Shankill areas of Belfast and to Londonderry.”
The ‘Pathways to Work’ initiative is delivered jointly by the Department for Employment and Learning, the Social Security Agency within the Department for Social Development and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Pathways to Work’ is a new service to help people with health problems or disabilities into work. It provides a new and comprehensive framework of practical and financial help and support to people with health and disability related barriers to employment.
2. In Northern Ireland there are over 114,000 people receiving Incapacity Benefits. This represents 10.7% of the working age population.
3. The new service has been available in Ballymoney, Lurgan and Magherafelt Jobs & Benefits offices since 3 October 2005 and in Newry, Enniskillen and Newtownabbey from 24 April 2006. From 30 October 2006 the service will be available in the Falls and Shankill areas of Belfast and in Londonderry.
4. The Pathways process includes faster Incapacity Benefit claims processing to allow claimants to then concentrate on the work focused elements of the service which are delivered by specially trained personal advisers. These are:
a better framework of work-focused interviews for all new claimants (up to six rather than current practice which is one);
improved referrals to Disablement Employment Programmes;
new work-focused rehabilitation programmes in conjunction with Department for Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS);
clearer incentives to try work, including a new Return to Work Credit;
better support for those moving off incapacity benefits onto Job Seekers Allowance.
5. Although the series of interviews is mandatory, the Pathways Personal Adviser has the discretion to waive or defer them if appropriate. All the choices on offer are entirely voluntary and clients are not put under pressure to participate in any of the options or forced into work.
6. Media queries to Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.