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<p>We are committed to improving employment outcomes for disabled people and people
with health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. We have seen
almost 950,000 more disabled people in work over the five years to the first quarter
of 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work offers disabled workers practical advice and
a discretionary grant of up to £59,200 per year for in-work support. Access to Work
does not record arthritis as a primary medical condition category, as the scheme uses
the same categories as the Labour Force Survey. However, last year Access to Work
paid over £13 million to individuals who listed ‘arms or hands, 'legs or feet' and
'back or neck' as their primary medical conditions, and many of these will be people
living with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. That represents over 10% of the
total Access to Work spend and a 2% increase, in real terms, on the previous year.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, DWP is engaging with employers through the Disability Confident
scheme - supporting them to feel more confident about both employing disabled people,
including people with arthritis, and supporting disabled employees to realise their
potential. Over 12,000 employers have signed up to the scheme so far.</p><p> </p><p>Looking
forward, DWP is working in partnership with Department of Health and Social Care to
publish a consultation on how employers can best support disabled people and people
with long-term health conditions like arthritis, to stay and thrive in work. The proposals
included in the consultation not only seek to benefit disabled people, but all employees
who experience or are at risk of a long term sickness absence.</p>
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