Greater Manchester could get powers to help people off benefits and into work

It might seem hard to believe when the country faces such stark shortages of skilled workers to do vital jobs, but nationwide there are 2.5 million people out of work due to long-term ill-health, with the estimated cost to the taxpayer running into the billions.

In Greater Manchester, where unemployment has been a problem for decades, the Working Well scheme which emerged from the region's 2014 devolution deal has helped thousands of people back into work. His vision is that the budgets for skills policy and also control of health funding should be handed to metro mayors like Andy Burnham and Oliver Coppard in South Yorkshire.

"And if they think you need some extra help, they just refer you to one of these nationally commissioned programs. And nobody thinks that they're giving people the proper help, and support and coaching that is needed." The Conservative government is also looking at reforming the system. The Times reports this week that Ministers are considering allowing people to keep claiming sickness benefits after returning to work and offering them tax breaks for getting jobs.

He added: “Devolution of powers from Whitehall to regionally elected and locally accountable Mayors is based on the clearly positive premise that we know our communities; their challenges and ambitions, barriers and opportunities.

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