The DWP has announced that people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions will be treated “quicker” to help them get back into work as part of the Government’s new “Get Britain Working” white paper
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a new update on its plans for the disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The benefits department has announced that people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions will be treated “quicker” to help them get back into work as part of the Government’s new “Get Britain Working” white paper. According to a report by Daily Record, as part of the government’s plan to tackle “economic inactivity”, 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England will share part of a £3.5million package to improve care services for musculoskeletal conditions.
The funding – called the MSK Community Delivery Programme – will be delivered through NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme. Each area in England and Wales is set to receive up to £300,000 to improve services. This includes developing more efficient ways of treating patients, getting them off waiting lists and getting them back into employment.
Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP, said: “For too long, people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working. It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.
“This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”
Currently, there are around 3.6million people claiming PIP in the UK. According to the latest DWP data from the end of October, around 1.1 million people in England and Wales were receiving the full amount of PIP worth £737.20 a month for MSK conditions.
According to government figures, more than nine million people in the UK are classed as “economically inactive.” This term describes someone who is not working or looking for work. Alongside this, 2.8million people are out of work due to long-term sickness.
Mental health issues are listed as the main health reasons behind PIP claims, followed by MSK, with around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23%) – saying MSK was their “primary condition”. Waiting lists for MSK services are also some of the highest, with 348,799 people waiting for treatment in England in September 2024 alone.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Andrew Gwynne added: “With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce. Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy.”
The Government announced its Get Britain Working White Paper in November and further details of the plans are expected to be set out – alongside Labour’s plans for health and disability benefit reforms – in the spring.
