Case Study

DWP Collaboration: Shaping the Right to Try Work Policy (2025)

Working alongside government to improve disability employment support.

 

In 2025, Lived Insights was invited by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to join the Right to Try Work Committee, contributing lived experience expertise to help shape the future of employment support for disabled people and those receiving health related benefits.

The committee met at Caxton House in London, bringing together DWP policymakers, policy writers and departmental leads alongside people with lived experience of claiming benefits. Lived Insights was proud to represent the voice of lived experience throughout the process.

As one of five advisory committees supporting the DWP’s wider review of disability benefits and employment support, the group worked collaboratively to explore how a new “Right to Try Work” offer could remove barriers and give people greater confidence to explore employment.

The Challenge

Many people receiving disability or health related benefits want to work but face significant concerns about the risks involved.

Key issues raised included:

• • Fear of losing benefits if work did not succeed.
  • Uncertainty about returning to previous benefits.
  • Concerns about losing additional support such as prescription fee exemptions or travel concessions.
  • Earnings thresholds and financial uncertainty.
  • The impact of work capability assessments.
  • Lack of trusted, independent advice when making decisions about work.

These concerns often prevent people from taking opportunities that could improve their health, wellbeing and financial independence.

Our Contribution

Lived Insights helped bring real life experiences into the policy discussions.

We shared our knowledge and the experiences of people who have used the benefits system. We talked about the need for a safety net, so people can try work without worrying about losing their benefits or being left worse off if the job doesn’t work out. We also discussed giving people a guarantee that they could return to their previous support without going through another lengthy assessment. We highlighted how volunteering can help people build confidence and move towards paid work.

We also talked about the importance of clear, honest information. People need trusted advice and simple tools, such as a “better off” calculator, so they can understand how work might affect their finances before making a decision.

Throughout the process, we championed the principle that policy should be designed with people, not for them.

Our Impact

The committee’s recommendations and learning were presented to Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, as part of the Government’s consideration of future reforms to disability employment support.

The work also reinforced the value of embedding lived experience within policy development, ensuring that decisions are informed by those who understand the system first-hand.

“It’s been fantastic to be part of this. I’m proud that Lived Insights is the only York-based lived experience-led organisation invited to contribute to these national discussions.

Our mission is to make sure people with lived experience are listened to because those who’ve lived it know it best – what works, what doesn’t and what needs to change.”

Miles, Co-Founder, Lived Insights.

The Outcome

This collaboration demonstrated how co-production can influence national policy and help create fairer, more supportive systems for disabled people considering employment.

By bringing lived experience directly into the policy-making process, Lived Insights helped ensure that future proposals better reflect the realities faced by people navigating the benefits system every day.

Read the findings: Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment – Interim Report here.