Roundup of recent DWP announcements
Employment boost for thousands of parents on Universal Credit
From this week, thousands of parents on Universal Credit will be supported to increase their chances of getting a job or increasing their work hours.
Parents of 3 to 12-year-olds will agree with their Work Coach to spend more time in work or applying for jobs, up to a maximum of 30 hours a week. Commitments will be tailored to parents' personal circumstances, including the availability of childcare. Alongside local Jobcentre support, this action could include time updating CVs or developing skills through courses and workshops.
Eligible parents who increase their working hours are now also receiving up to 85% of their upfront childcare costs back before their next month's bills are due, helping them cover costs one month in advance going forward. Prior to these changes many low-income families struggled with upfront childcare bills, making it harder for them to move into work.
Read the full press release
Childcare support for working parents
As announced in the Spring Budget, the Government is expanding childcare support to all working families for children up to the age of 17 which is worth up to £1,630 per month. These changes will be fully in place by September 2025.
Parents can currently receive support through tax-free childcare and also by claiming 15 or 30 hours of free childcare.
Many parents on Universal Credit are also eligible for up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more children, up £305 and £530 respectively – an increase of nearly 50% from the previous support.
Crucially, the first month's childcare bill can now be covered up-front by DWP allowing more parents to return to work or increase their hours.
To find out about the available options, download the stakeholder toolkit or visit Childcare Choices.
Back to work boost for disability benefit claimants
Following a successful trial in Leeds which has helped hundreds of people move towards work, Employment and Health Discussions will now be expanded to 12 additional sites across England and Wales as part of the next generation of welfare reforms being introduced by DWP.
Under the new initiative, the claimants and health practitioners develop a 'work ability plan' over a one-hour conversation, identifying barriers to employment and actions and support to overcome them. The plan is then shared with their work coach to continue support to overcome their barriers and move them towards work.
It means health claimants can highlight and begin to overcome any work barriers prior to undergoing a Work Capability Assessment, potentially realising a job outcome sooner.
The 12 new sites are: Aberdare, Bradford, Chelmsford, Doncaster, Durham, Hull, Lancaster, Newcastle, Norwich, Sunderland, Wigan and York.
Read the full press release
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