Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is likely to announce a new crackdown on DWP benefits claimants later today, following a post-pandemic spike in people being ruled unfit to work, with the NHS issuing 11 million sick notes in 2023.
UK Government Proposes Radical Changes to Sick Note System to Tackle Economic Inactivity
Since the pandemic, the number of people classified as economically inactive due to chronic illnesses has increased by one-third, with 2.8 million individuals in Britain currently unemployed due to illness. The Prime Minister intends to change what he refers to as the "sick note culture" in order to combat the growth in economic inactivity.
The government is concerned that the fit note system has "opened the floodgates" for millions of individuals to be labelled "not fit to work" by their GP, and as part of their changes, they will explore completely eliminating GPs from the equation. As part of the changes "specialist work and health professionals" may instead issue sick notes, coupled with a "objective assessment" of whether someone qualifies to work.
Before these measures are implemented, Rishi Sunak's government will issue a request for evidence from healthcare providers and employers to determine how to assist those with health issues in starting work.
The Prime Minister is expected to say the following in his speech later today: “We don’t just need to change the sick note, we need to change the sick note culture so the default becomes what work you can do – not what you can’t.
“Building on the pilots we’ve already started we’re going to design a new system where people have easy and rapid access to specialised work and health support to help them back to work from the very first Fit Note conversation.
“We’re also going to test shifting the responsibility for assessment from GPs and giving it to specialist work and health professionals who have the dedicated time to provide an objective assessment of someone’s ability to work and the tailored support they need to do so.”
DWP Faces Spending Surge Amidst Sick Note System Overhaul
As more people seek disability and illness payments, the Department for Work and Pensions' spending has increased significantly. Since the pandemic, taxpayer funding for these benefits has increased by two-thirds, from £42.3 billion to £69 billion.
According to the government, the fit note process has become the first stage in someone's exit from employment, with evidence indicating that the longer someone is gone from work, the more difficult it is to return. According to a poll, 53% of the 2.8 million people ruled unfit to work last year suffered from melancholy, bad nerves, and anxiety.
The Prime Minister planned speech is also expected to include: “We should see it as a sign of progress that people can talk openly about mental health conditions in a way that only a few years ago would’ve been unthinkable, and I will never dismiss or downplay the illnesses people have.
“But just as it would be wrong to dismiss this growing trend, so it would be wrong merely to sit back and accept it because it’s too hard; or too controversial; or for fear of causing offence. Doing so, would let down many of the people our welfare system was designed to help.
“Because if you believe as I do, that work gives you the chance not just to earn but to contribute, to belong, to overcome feelings of loneliness and social isolation and if you believe, as I do, the growing body of evidence that good work can actually improve mental and physical health…
“…then it becomes clear: we need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life.”