Nani Chavez
Citizens Advice Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has raised concerns over government plans to change the welfare system for people with health conditions or disabilities.
In its response to the Pathways to Work consultation, the charity warned that scrapping the Work Capability Assessment without a fully tested alternative could put vulnerable claimants at risk. The government plans to increase the use of conditionality, where people receiving Universal Credit must carry out job-seeking activity or face sanctions.
Citizens Advice BCP says this could harm people with mental health problems or unstable housing, making it harder for them to access the support they need. The charity shared local examples of people who want to work but face barriers including lack of childcare, poor transport and limited access to digital services.
The group also said that national employment schemes often miss the mark locally. They called for better coordination between job services, mental health care, housing support and skills training, so people are properly prepared before being expected to find work.
They have asked the government to delay removing the Work Capability Assessment until a fair system is in place. They also want to see income protected for those who are not ready to start looking for work due to illness or disability.
Citizens Advice BCP said people should not be pushed towards work at the expense of their wellbeing.