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20/02/2008
New Sanctions Regime For Benefit Cheats
A review into the way benefit claimants are sanctioned will pave the way for a more flexible, graduated system which gives advisers more ability to impose sanctions on those claimants who break the rules, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell announced today.
Speaking at the Social Market Foundation (SMF) Mr Purnell said: "These new sanctions will tackle those people who can work and choose not to. For those who genuinely cannot work I want to look at the principle of individual budgets to see how we can give them more control over their lives."
He also announced that everyone who is long term unemployed and claiming Jobseekers' Allowance will be expected to undertake work related activity in return for their benefit.
"We are streamlining the various New Deals into a single, flexible New Deal. We will make clear that we expect all jobseekers who join this programme to do at least four weeks of full time work or work-related activity unless they find work within 12 months. This will be a minimum: we will be looking for bidders who extend this principle to those claimants who will benefit," he said.
He also set out how welfare reform must tackle poverty, in particular reaffirming the Government's commitment to abolishing child poverty by 2020.
"Poverty shrinks capability. It impairs life chances. Poverty makes life riskier than it needs to be, less pleasant than it needs to be, less fulfilling than it could be. I want to be categorical about child poverty: it will not be quietly abandoned."
Since 1997 the amount of people on the main unemployment benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA), has been halved and record numbers are in work. However James Purnell set out the importance of dealing with those pockets of worklessness that still exist, announcing plans for the long term unemployed to undertake work related activity.
(VB)
Speaking at the Social Market Foundation (SMF) Mr Purnell said: "These new sanctions will tackle those people who can work and choose not to. For those who genuinely cannot work I want to look at the principle of individual budgets to see how we can give them more control over their lives."
He also announced that everyone who is long term unemployed and claiming Jobseekers' Allowance will be expected to undertake work related activity in return for their benefit.
"We are streamlining the various New Deals into a single, flexible New Deal. We will make clear that we expect all jobseekers who join this programme to do at least four weeks of full time work or work-related activity unless they find work within 12 months. This will be a minimum: we will be looking for bidders who extend this principle to those claimants who will benefit," he said.
He also set out how welfare reform must tackle poverty, in particular reaffirming the Government's commitment to abolishing child poverty by 2020.
"Poverty shrinks capability. It impairs life chances. Poverty makes life riskier than it needs to be, less pleasant than it needs to be, less fulfilling than it could be. I want to be categorical about child poverty: it will not be quietly abandoned."
Since 1997 the amount of people on the main unemployment benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA), has been halved and record numbers are in work. However James Purnell set out the importance of dealing with those pockets of worklessness that still exist, announcing plans for the long term unemployed to undertake work related activity.
(VB)
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17 February 2015
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
21 July 2008
Benefit Claimants Could Be Forced To Work
Benefit claimants could be forced into community work under new UK Government plans to get millions of the unemployed back to work. The Welfare Green Paper is expected to include proposals to force those unemployed for more than two years to work within the community.
Benefit Claimants Could Be Forced To Work
Benefit claimants could be forced into community work under new UK Government plans to get millions of the unemployed back to work. The Welfare Green Paper is expected to include proposals to force those unemployed for more than two years to work within the community.
22 February 2013
Work Programme Branded 'Worse Than Doing Nothing'
The governments multi-billion-pound welfare-to-work scheme have been criticised as “extremely poor” by MPs. The Public Accounts Committee has said the Work Programme only managed to get 3.6% of the people on the scheme off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months.
Work Programme Branded 'Worse Than Doing Nothing'
The governments multi-billion-pound welfare-to-work scheme have been criticised as “extremely poor” by MPs. The Public Accounts Committee has said the Work Programme only managed to get 3.6% of the people on the scheme off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months.
03 December 2008
Queen's Speech Tackles Economic Downturn And The Unemployed
Stimulus for the unemployed to seek work, support for ailing businesses and tighter immigration controls were all outlined in the Queen's speech to Parliament earlier today.
Queen's Speech Tackles Economic Downturn And The Unemployed
Stimulus for the unemployed to seek work, support for ailing businesses and tighter immigration controls were all outlined in the Queen's speech to Parliament earlier today.
16 June 2006
Poverty 'motivates' benefit cheats
The practice of people taking 'cash-in-hand' low-paid jobs or not declaring work while on benefits is being used as a last resort response to acute poverty or crises according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Poverty 'motivates' benefit cheats
The practice of people taking 'cash-in-hand' low-paid jobs or not declaring work while on benefits is being used as a last resort response to acute poverty or crises according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
