New employment and careers digital support for citizens
The Department for Work and Pensions’ employment and careers digital support for citizens has now gone live. The tools aim to support people to explore careers options, search for work and prepare for job applications, and can be found on GOV.UK.
These include a new Find a Job service, a CV Builder, an Action Planning Tool and an AI Work Assistant, supporting people at different stages of their employment journey. The tools offer a more joined up job search experience and provide personalised support.
They are designed to complement the valuable support provided by partner organisations and advisers.
Motability scheme update
Reforms to the Motability scheme to ensure fairness for taxpayers, whilst still supporting disabled people’s mobility, came into force this week.
VAT will now apply to advance payments - the optional one-off top-up paid by customers who choose a more expensive vehicle - and Insurance Premium Tax will apply to new leases.
The scheme was set up to help disabled people stay mobile and independent, and these changes ensure it continues to do exactly that, while delivering genuine value for taxpayers.
Disabled people on enhanced mobility benefits will continue to receive their full award of £77.05 per week and remain eligible for the scheme, with vehicles still available that require no advance payment, meaning people can access a car using their benefit alone.
Health assessments to be recorded as standard
All face-to-face and telephone health assessments for disability and sickness benefits will be audio recorded as standard from 29 June to improve transparency in the benefit system.
The change means that claimants undergoing assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will have their assessment automatically recorded, unless they choose to opt out.
The move marks a significant shift from the previous opt-in system, under which claimants had to request a recording themselves. Despite being offered the option through invitation letters and assessment supplier websites, fewer than 3 percent of claimants took up the offer.
The new policy will improve public trust in the health assessment process through greater transparency. Recordings will also be used as a learning tool to identify potential improvements to assessment quality and will be made available to claimants who wish to appeal their initial benefit award.