Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and employment support
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 600
Published 19 July 2023
Recommendations
7
Deferred
Para 57
Increase Housing Benefit applicable amount for young people in supported accommodation to remove cliff edge
Recommendation
The benefit rules for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit can interact in such a way that a cliff edge arises when claimants in supported accommodation who must Plan for Jobs and employment support 81 claim both benefits work more than …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenge but states that the recommended approach would be challenging to implement by April 2024. They are designing a proof of concept with the West Midlands Combined Authority to test financial support for young people.
Department for Work and Pensions
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15
Deferred
Para 104
Implement research recommendations following the expansion of the SME occupational health subsidy pilot.
Recommendation
There is inadequate access to occupational health services, especially for those working for small businesses. The rise in the number of people who are economically inactive due to long-term health conditions and high rates of economic inactivity among disabled people …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirmed the OH SME subsidy pilot is in design with timelines to be confirmed and findings will inform future recommendations, thereby not providing a detailed timeline for initiatives nor committing to releasing findings by the prorogation deadline.
Department for Work and Pensions
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30
Deferred
Para 190
Consider removing employer National Insurance payments for new employees on benefits for 12 months.
Recommendation
DWP and the Government should consider and provide a response to the Good Jobs Project recommendation that the Government remove the requirement for employers to pay employer National Insurance for 12 months for new employees who were in receipt of …
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Government Response Summary
The government noted the recommendations and will engage with the Good Jobs Project but explicitly stated it has no plans to issue a formal response. It also deflected the tax policy recommendation, stating it is a matter for HMT.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Conclusions (5)
3
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 51
DWP should ensure that mental health support services continue to be set up in all new Youth Hub locations as a mandatory element. DWP needs to set clear guidance for these services to ensure a baseline standard of delivery across the Youth Hubs network.
Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to making mental health support mandatory in Youth Hubs or setting clear guidance, stating that future evaluations of the Youth Offer will inform any improvements or changes to policy.
13
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 85
Employers at level 2 should also be required to publish the percentage of disabled employees at their organisation. This would send a much stronger signal to disabled people in the labour market about which employers employ disabled people and have supportive, accommodating working environments.
Government Response Summary
The government stated it is considering extending reporting requirements for Disability Confident, including for Level 2 employers, and will be informed by the findings of the Disability Workforce Reporting Consultation.
14
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 99
DWP should consider the potential that income protection insurance has to help people experiencing illness or injury remain in employment, support their return to work and reduce the financial burden on DWP when people become unable to work. DWP should explore how income protection insurance could work alongside occupational health …
Government Response Summary
The government agreed income protection insurance can be valuable but largely deflected the specific call to explore it alongside occupational health, referring instead to ongoing consultations on occupational health services and an SME subsidy pilot that will inform future policy.
16
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 105
DWP should also use the SME subsidy pilot to conduct research on employee attitudes to occupational health and barriers to take-up. This should be done with a view to establishing a requirement for employees to participate in occupational health services following an extended health-related absence from work to support their …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected the recommendation to use the SME subsidy pilot for research on employee attitudes and barriers to occupational health, stating the pilot's purpose is to test financial incentives for increasing OH access for SMEs.
28
Conclusion
Deferred
The move from ESF to UKSPF is of significant concern for external support providers. Whilst the Government’s eventual decision to lift the restriction on the use of the UKSPF for people and skills spending is welcome, there is still expected to be disruption due to comparatively less funding under the …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected responsibility to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and local authorities for UKSPF funding. It did not commit to expanding the Flexible Support Fund, describing it instead as a £60m discretionary fund for local jobcentre staff to tailor support.