MINISTERS have been warned off “carrot-and-stick” approaches to getting disabled people and those with long-term illness into work.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced plans for “intensive” tailored support today for people on health-related benefits ahead of wider reforms to fix the “broken welfare system.” 

Work Foundation think tank director Ben Harrison welcomed the commitment for more tailored assistance, but warned that  “as welfare budgets come under increased pressure, ministers must resist the temptation to think about these changes in terms of carrots and sticks to push people into employment.