DRASTIC plans have been unveiled to get Brits off benefits - and they could be prescribed going for runs or life coaches.
The Department for Work and Pensions revealed plans for a new crackdown on benefit claimants to get them back into the workforce.
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Job centres and bosses will refer people to community activities to tackle sick leave Credit: Alamy
Ministers are set to implement the new WorkWell scheme to tackle long-term sickness in the welfare system.
With the new reforms, GPs, employers, job centres and social workers will be able to refer people to occupational health schemes to keep them well enough to work.
People can also be offered community activities through NHS “social prescribing” initiatives - including singing, cooking or gardening clubs.
Further support includes medical treatment, training or life coaching to reduce the number of people on sick leave.
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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said that the drastic plans come as the government “is on a mission to get people back to work”.
She told The Times: “From work coaches to clinicians, therapists to running clubs, we will bring together the interventions that we know work to change lives and help people bounce back.
“Where someone could fall out of work and on to long-term sickness benefits, WorkWell is designed to swoop in and provide the support that people need to stay in work, or return as soon as possible.”
Welfare Secretary Mel Stride claimed the NHS is falling short when dealing with record levels of sickness absence.
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According to official figures, a record 2.6million people are currently off work because of long-term sickness.
Stride and Atkins claimed local authorities will be supported with resources to help people "find and stay in employment".
They added: “We know the longer someone spends out of work, the harder it becomes for them to find a job.
“We also know that one in five of those claiming the highest level of health benefits want to work and feel they could do so with the right support.”
Ministers said around 59,000 people are set to be involved in pilots schemes in 2024 across the nation.
However, the plan will not be fully implemented until 2025.
It comes as Rishi Sunak previously pledged to tackle the “national scandal” of people claiming to be too ill to work.
Earlier this year, Mel Stride unveiled plans to slash the number of Brits signing off with health problems.
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To wrestle down the eye-watering ￡25.9billion annual sick benefits bill he is proposing to tighten the criteria that people are declared unfit to work.
Under the crackdown assessors will consider someone’s ability to work remotely to reflect the rise in flexible jobs.