A few extra thoughts on the prospect of disability benefit reform🧵(1/8):

➡️These benefits (in various but similar forms) haven't worked well for a v.long time

➡️Making improvements is incredibly difficult - people and the barriers they face in life+work are varied and complex

➡️Labour's related announcements this week show political consensus on direction + need for reform - this is necessary as it will take time

➡️ It's worth noting that trust in Gov (of any colour) to reform + deliver disability benefits well is (for good reason) terrible

2/8

On the actual reforms trailed:

➡️The Work Capability Assessment assesses eligibility for benefits by checking up on and exploring people's self-declared barriers to work

➡️Importantly it isn't designed to help people overcome barriers but simply to assess eligibility

3/8

➡️It doesn't identify things like:

▪️aids/adaptations or other support for work or life
▪️ suitable work - type/hours/timing/flexibility - just whether they can/can't work
▪️ steps or pathways toward tackling barriers
▪️people's current health or social care journeys

4/8

➡️All of this and more is necessary if you want to use disability benefits as a way to improve people's independence + quality of life including their chances of work

➡️All of this is currently left to a Work Coach rather than a health or Occupational Therapy Professional

5/8

➡️Not only this but the process of getting these benefits is slow, difficult + too often decisions are wrong

➡️People have to continuously fight to prove eligibility. This makes them anxious + worsens their health

➡️All of this combined leaves people stuck and fearful

6/8

➡️Reform is clearly necessary. Building trust and involving disabled people must be part of this

➡️The focus cannot be on short-term savings from restricting eligibility, reducing the £ value or increasing the harshness of conditionality. These approaches haven't worked

7/8

➡️For me the game-changer to explore will be improving access+availability of Occupational Therapy services in the UK. Either as part of the benefits system, by⬆️resources in health/social care/workplaces, or by creating something independent of these locally or nationally

8/8