The Back To Work Plan And 'Fit Note' Reform

What is the Back to Work Plan?

The Chancellor's Back to Work Plan was announced as part of the Autumn Statement 2023 to assist up to 1,100,000 people with long-term health conditions, disabilities or long-term unemployment to look for and stay in work. This scheme builds on the spring budgets £7 billion employment package announced earlier this year and includes £2.5 billion of investment over the next 5 years. The Chancellor's statement outlined how growing our economy 'means that we must address the rise in people who aren't looking for work'; the reforms to the Back to Work plan therefore focus largely on ensuring people stay in work, return to work, and removing the barriers that stop people from working if they are able to.