The support staff will provide voluntary help to people on Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity with no requirement to work.

Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden said: ‘These dedicated staff are key to unlocking work for tens of thousands of people as we get on with our plan to get Britain working, ensure our welfare system is fit for the future and deliver economic growth, as part of our Plan for Change.'

There are around 2.2m people are on the country's main benefit, told they're too sick to work, and have been left behind with no support and no help – with approximately 1.3m because of a mental illness and 900,000 with back pain, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. The UK has over 2.8m long-term sick sick – one of the highest rates in the G7.

Over 10,000 people have taken up the offer so far. Those with the most severe and lifelong health conditions, and those treated under Special Rules End of Life will not be contacted.

Support could include being directed to Government employment support programmes like Connect to Work, which provides personalised job-search assistance, employer engagement and on and off the job support, or WorkWell, which combines medical help with career guidance. 

This is in addition to investment in WorkWell, a joint pilot by DWP and DHSC, which is backed by £64m funding and being delivered in 15 pilot sites until spring 2026.