DISABILITY benefit claimants will be able to try out a job without losing handouts under plans to get Britain working.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall wants to encourage people trapped on benefits to “take a chance” on work.
Liz Kendall wants to encourage people trapped on benefits to ‘take a chance’ on work[/caption]
She will this week announce plans to legislate for a “right to try” guarantee.
It means health and disability claimants trying out work will not automatically be considered as having a change of circumstance — which triggers a benefit reassessment.
Sources said many are scared to get a job in case it goes wrong and they lose their access to benefits.
It comes after a Cabinet revolt over looming £5billion welfare cuts.
A Government source said: “The broken welfare system we inherited is trapping thousands of people in a life on benefits with no means of support, or any hope for a future of life in work. It doesn’t account for the reality of people’s health conditions, many of whom fear that they will be punished for taking a chance on work.”
A Government survey found 200,000 people claiming health and disability benefits are ready for work now if the right job or support were available.
And figures unearthed by The Sun on Sunday reveal the sheer scale of the unemployment crisis.
Of nine million economically inactive last year, 83 per cent did not want a job, according to Government stats.
Meanwhile, 78 per cent of the 2.8million on long-term sickness did not want one.
Karl Williams, of think tank Centre for Policy Studies, said 2.2million of working age are “economically inactive due to long-term sickness and have actively stated they don’t want to work”.
He added: “This is incredibly damaging, both for them and for the nation.”
The DWP said: “Without reform more people will be locked out of jobs, despite many wanting to work. That is not just bad for the economy, it’s bad for people too.”
The Tories said they planned to save £12billion from the welfare bill.
