The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is exploring how the benefit system can better meet the needs of disabled people and those with long term health conditions and the ways in which the welfare system can help people within these groups both now and in the future, to build a structure that enables them to live independently and move into work where possible.
The Consultation invites views in relation the following specific topics:
1. Providing the Right Support
2. Improving Employment Support
3. Improving Current services
4. Re-thinking Future Assessments to Support better Outcomes
5. Exploring Ways to Improve the Design of the benefit System
Since the Social Security System in Northern Ireland operates in a similar way to that in England, Scotland and Wales, the Department for Communities (DfC) is keen to seek the views of individuals and organisations here in relation to the questions posed within the Green Paper in order to ensure that the views of local stakeholders are considered by DWP and can help to inform any future change.
Siobhán hopes to make a Consortium response to this consultation. If you wish to provide input to the consultation or feel that you could get a group of women together to discuss these issues please get in touch with Siobhán at policy@wsn.org.uk as soon as possible.
The DWP consultation is an online-based questionnaire which closes on 11th October 2021 and can be responded to directly here.
