The DWP has announced a £3.5 fund to help people with a bad back get back to work as part of a bid to curb the spiraling benefits bill.

Ministers say people with back, joint, and muscle issues are set to be treated more quickly and supported back into employment.

The money will go to 17 areas where there are the longest NHS waiting lists for treatments for people suffering with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

The areas selected range from Birmingham to Cornwall, the North East of England, parts of London, Cheshire, Sussex and Dorset.

The says that there are currently 646,000 people off work with MSK conditions – around one in four of the record 2.8 million people on long-term sickness benefits.

The funding is part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which aims to deliver growth, put more money in people’s pockets, and get the NHS back on its feet. Each area will receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity.

The MSK Community Delivery Programme will be administered through NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and will give Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) the resources to develop more efficient ways of getting MSK patients treated, off waiting lists and back onto the path of employment.

17 areas getting funding 

Birmingham and Solihull ICB

Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire ICB

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB

Cheshire (NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB) ICB

Cornwall ICB

Devon ICB

Dorset ICB

Greater Manchester ICB – Manchester / Oldham

Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Leicester Leicestershire & Rutland ICB

Norfolk and Waveney ICB

North Central London ICB

North East and North Cumbria ICB

North East London ICB

Northamptonshire ICB

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB

Sussex ICB

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, said: “For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working.

“It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.

“This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”

There are 2.8million people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23 percent) – said MSK was their primary condition.

Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4 million working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said: “With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.

“Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy.”

Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England’s National Director of Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery and Chair of the Getting it Right First Time programme, said: “This initiative could make a real difference to people with MSK conditions– providing them with the care they need and helping them to return to work.

“Local health systems will be able to assess their current services and share examples of best practice to roll out innovative ways of working, as well as improving data on how services are performing.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, said: “With over 20 million people living with musculoskeletal conditions, including 10 million with arthritis, Versus Arthritis understands the devastating impact these conditions can have on working lives.

“Arthritis can cause debilitating pain, joint stiffness and prevent people doing everyday tasks, with work sometimes made to feel an impossible challenge.

“MSK Community Services can be an invaluable resource for people with arthritis, and we are delighted to see the launch of this programme in dedicated sites across England, and in the future across the whole country.”

The Government announced the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper in November as part of the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, bringing together skills and health to get more people into work and get on in work.