Work Capability Assessment reform announced to reduce disability employment gap

The Department of Work and Pensions, together with the Department of Health, have announced a consultation on their plans to reform the Work Capability Assessment and other work-related support, ensuring that more disabled people are given the support that they need to return to work. The Government is committed to halving the disability employment gap by 2020.

The Work Capability Assessment forms part of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and assesses someone’s capacity to work. It places successful claimants for ESA in either the 'work-related activity group' or 'support group'.

The work-related activity group means officials have decided a claimant's disability or health condition currently means they are unable to have a job but are capable of making some effort to find employment for the future. They receive up to £102.15 a week in ESA payments while attending employment-focused interviews and training. From April 2017, payments will fall to £73.10 for new claimants, bringing the rate into line with Jobseeker's Allowance.

Those in the 'support group', who have been deemed unable to work and are not required to do anything to improve their chances of finding a job, receive up to £109.30 a week.

The consultation follows the announcement that people placed within the 'support group' with severe conditions that will not improve, will no longer face reassessments to continue to claim ESA.

To help us ensure that the voice of those with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease) can be at the heart of the consultation, Crohn’s and Colitis UK will be looking to gather all your views on the proposed reforms so please watch this space for how you can participate.

• Find out more about disability benefits and the support we can offer.