On Monday 27 October the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will replace Incapacity Benefit and Income Support.

It’s designed to help people with an illness or disability return to work through focusing on what they can do rather than what they can’t. An initial medical assessment will enable a doctor or nurse to identify measures which can aid this return to work - such as recommending appropriate medical treatment or suggesting workplace adjustments.

People claiming ESA will be expected to take reasonable steps to get back into work.  Those with a severe illness or disability won’t be expected necessarily to return to employment, although they can take advantage of the support offered through the scheme if they choose to.

The ESA is for new customers. Those already receiving Incapacity Benefit or Income Support will continue to do so for as long as they satisfy the qualifying conditions. However, these customers will also be able to access the work-focused help available with ESA on a voluntary basis.

If you are a new claimant affected by the change, contact one of the Wheatsheaf  Trust centres for advice.

On 20 October the Department of Work and Pension announced, ‘It will now be easier for people to move from benefits into work, as they will only have to make one call to update their details, ensuring they are getting the right in-work entitlements and that it pays to work.’

There will now be a single point of contact at Jobcentre Plus, who will collect details of changes in work circumstances for the DWP who will pass on the information to Revenue and Customs (for tax credit purposes) and the appropriate local authority (for housing requirements).

Designed to improve efficiency generally this is also seen as a way of helping in particular those moving in and out of employment. DWP Minister, Lord McKenzie, said, ‘We hope by speeding up the process … more people will be encouraged to take up opportunities for short term work where in the past they might have been put off by a lengthy process of informing all the relevant bodies.’

There will be a phased implementation of the scheme over the next 18 months, with Guildford the first area in the South East to participate.

With the scheme intended to make it easier and less time-consuming for people to move into work, Lord McKenzie states, ‘…we are committed to making work pay, giving people the chance to support themselves and their families.”