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Welfare reform

There are more than 500,000 people claiming incapacity benefit with musculoskeletal disorders. Studies have shown that early physiotherapy intervention can significantly reduce day's lost off from work and other activities and reduce the risk of developing chronic pain.

The CSP has been involved in the work by Dame Carol Black, the national director for health and work, reviewed the health of the working age population in Britain.

Her report, Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, made a number of recommendations to both prevent workplace ill-health and assist people with health problems return to work. Of particular note is the proposed 'fit for work' initiative.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Health must work together to ensure that there is prompt and equitable access to physiotherapy-led vocational rehabilitation.

The Government published a Welfare Reform Green Paper on the 21st July 2008 called No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility which sets out plans for improving support and work incentives to create a system that rewards responsibility. The welfare reform proposals would introduce 'back to work' pilots for the long-term unemployed.

See the CSP response to 'No one written off' at the bottom of this page.

The Government has published a subsequent White Paper, Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future.

Many of the proposals contained in the White Paper require a change in legislation, which will be addressed in the Welfare Reform Bill.