£64m War Chest To End Sick Note Culture And Get Thousands Back To Work

PEOPLE who can work but refuse will be given a personal job coach in an effort to end Britain's "sick note culture".

- Giles Sheldrick

Sweeping reforms announced today finally acknowledge it has become too easy to be signed off.

From October 60,000 people currently languishing at home will be offered personalised support to get them into the workplace as part of a £64million package.

Work Well pilots are a clear sign of alarm over economic inactivity and the burden giving up on work is having on taxpayers.

There are now 9.3 million people classed as "economically inactive" but 2.8 million are off work or out of education because of long-term sickness a rise of 8.4% in a year.

Figures show 1.3 million people receive unemployment benefits, payments while they actively look for work. But the number claiming out-of-work benefits stands at 5.6 million.

Those living in 15 areas where more than five million fit notes were issued last year will be able to access support including physiotherapy and counselling to stop the deep damaging binary choice between work and welfare.

Spiral