Bryan HayThe Prime Minister has announced plans to reform the UK’s benefits system, aiming to address the high volume of fit notes and the issue of long-term sickness. Last year, almost 11 million fit notes were issued, with 94% marked as “not fit for work.” The reform aims to redefine assessments and support around work capability.
“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,” the prime minister stated.
The proposed changes include a review of the fit note system, suggesting a transition from GPs to specialist work and health professionals who can provide more precise assessments. This shift is intended to prevent unnecessary exits from the workforce and reduce dependency on welfare.
The Prime Minister also commented on the financial implications of the current system: “Since the pandemic, total spending on working age disability and ill-health benefits increased by almost two-thirds from £42.3bn to £69bn and we now spend more on these benefits than our core schools’ budget or on policing.”
A call for evidence will be launched to gather diverse perspectives on improving the system. The government aims to foster a more integrated approach to work and health, helping individuals to remain in or return to work more effectively.
The Prime Minister added: “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.”
