Work Choice

Work Choice was a voluntary Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) programme which was intended to support disabled people who may have faced barriers to employment or risked losing their job due to their disability. It was introduced in England, Wales, and Scotland in October 2010 and closed in March 2019.

History

Work Choice was introduced in October 2010, replacing WORKSTEP and Work Preparation programs. The UK Government hoped the program would support around 23,000 severely disabled people each year. The program was designed to cover all steps of the work finding journey and contracts were made with prime providers to support individuals on the program. Employers were able to claim a payment of up to £2,275 when they recruited a disabled person through Work Choice.

Upon its launch in 2010, Maria Miller admitted that the uptake of the scheme wasn't as high as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expected, with updated figures estimating that 16,000 individuals would be supported each year.

When the scheme closed in 2019, funding was allocated to Access to Work, enabling businesses who hired individuals on the Work Choice scheme to receive £5,000 funding for two years. Work Choice was succeeded by Work and Health Programme.

References

  1. ↑ "Work Choice impact evaluation". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "New Work Choice evaluation report | Disability Rights UK". www.disabilityrightsuk.org. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Welfare reform - new employment programme for disabled people is launched". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Pensions, DWP-Department for Work and (31 July 2012). "UK Work Choice Program Provides Incentive for Hiring People with Disabilities | DW". www.disabled-world.com. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  5. ↑ guest (31 October 2010). "Government admits Work Choice numbers 'are lower'". Disability News Service. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "FactCheck: Is the Government's new benefits policy fit to work or shirking its duties?". Channel 4 News. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Increased funding announced for disabled people with the greatest barriers to work". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  8. ↑ amy.s (20 June 2025). "Employability Day: Lessons from Work Choice & the Work and Health Programme". Maximus UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.