Sir Keir Starmer has advocated for those on long-term sick leave benefits to return to work “where they can”, aligning with a growing governmental push to address economic inactivity.
The Prime Minister echoed this sentiment, asserting that the “basic proposition that you should look for work is right,” while emphasizing the need for increased support to help more people re-enter employment.
This stance follows a broader crackdown on benefit fraud and a focus on reducing the number of people unable to work due to illness. Sir Keir Starmer stated on BBC Radio 4 that while “hard cases” exist, the overall goal is to support individuals in finding work where possible.
Rise in Long-Term Sick Leave
Long-term sick leave in the UK has reached a record high of 2.8 million in October 2023, making up 7% of the working-age population, according to data from the Resolution Foundation.
This figure surged from 2.1 million in July 2019, following the Covid-19 pandemic, and has yet to decline to pre-pandemic levels. Experts warn that without intervention, this number could increase by 50% over the next five years.
Despite the government’s intentions, sense, a national disability charity, criticized the Prime Minister’s remarks, arguing that they “ignore the enormous and deeply unfair barriers” disabled people face in seeking employment. Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility predicts that sickness and disability benefits could rise by £30 billion over the next five years.
Government Plans to Combat Worklessness
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall promised new strategies to address “the root causes of worklessness” by coordinating support for work, health, and skills. She declared, “The only way to get Britain growing again is to get Britain working again.”
Additionally, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to deploy “crack teams of top clinicians” to hospitals in areas with the highest numbers of sickness benefit recipients, aiming to reduce waiting lists and accelerate treatment. This initiative is part of broader reforms that aim to impact both the health and economic sectors.
However, specific details on how the government intends to reduce long-term sick leave remain unclear, with more concrete policies expected in the upcoming Budget.
