The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a major expansion of its Jobs Guarantee scheme to include young disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
The initiative will offer thousands of Universal Credit claimants in the LCW and LCWRA categories guaranteed job placements from April 2027. Eligible young people will receive a guaranteed job on a voluntary basis from week 13 following their Work Capability Assessment.
Support and wage costs covered
Participants will get mentoring and bespoke support covering mental health, finances and housing to help them prepare for work. The government will foot 100% of wage costs for up to 25 hours per week across six months.
The scheme forms part of the government's £3.5 billion investment aimed at tackling the UK's persistently high disability employment gap. Officials say the initiative is designed to help up to 90,000 young people into work by the end of the Parliament.
Charities and employers welcome the move
James Taylor, Executive Director at disability equality charity Scope, said: "This scheme could give many young disabled people a much-needed foot in the door." He added that young disabled people have been "locked out of work by barriers beyond their control."
The expansion has been welcomed by major employers including Tesco and follows the launch of the Opening Shift programme providing over 11,000 work experience placements.
