DWP will not take forward Drug Recovery Pilots

The DWP has announced it will not take forward previously proposed Welfare Reform Drug Recovery pilots, but instead look at other ways in which Government departments can work together to provide the help and support people need to overcome drug and alcohol dependency and get back to work.

These announcements follow yesterday’s report by the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) which found the pilots unlikely to be effective, contain a number of significant flaws and won’t produce robust results, according to DWP.

Helping people who are trapped on benefits through drug and alcohol addiction so that they can recover and find employment is a top priority for the Government, Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller has stated.

Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most damaging root causes of poverty and Ministers are committed to radically reforming the welfare system to support people through recovery and into sustainable jobs, the Minister added.

Maria Miller said:

"Drug and alcohol addiction ruins lives, destroys families, and causes serious harm to children whose parents are addicts. Under the current system, over 80% of problem drug users are estimated to receive benefits, often for many years, and with no real chance of recovering or getting back to work.

"Those with drug and alcohol problems often face other difficulties in finding work, and we will now focus on addressing substance misuse in the wider context of other barriers to employment such as housing and mental health issues".

"We are determined to reform the welfare system so that drug and alcohol users receive the help and support they need to overcome their dependency and get back to work".

Also published today is the research report "Problem Drug Users and their Experience of the Benefits System", which finds mixed results in the experiences of problem drug users claiming benefit, finding and sustaining employment and dealing with Jobcentre Plus.

Source: DWP