Sue Jameson on benefit reforms
Jobseekers will soon be required to do more to find work.
Employment Minister Esther McVey says the new rules will help put to an end to the system where people start claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) by just signing-on without first taking steps to make themselves attractive to employers.
Political Editor Sue Jameson tells us more in her blog.
If there's one thing you can guarantee about benefit reforms - they're always controversial and the new changes for long-term unemployment claimants prove that.
The Government believes that the Help to Work scheme will be exactly that, and that it means anyone who can work will work. These are significant changes.
For a start those who have been looking for work for over two years have three options They can either go to the Job centre everyday instead of every two weeks. Or they can take a six month unpaid placement involuntary or community schemes. Or undergo more training and education. Actually, there is a fourth option if people don't do any of the above - they can lose their benefits for a while!
Now there are a number of questions that spring to mind, aren't there?
If you live in a rural area, is it really cost effective in time and money to travel to the Job centre every day?
What if people don't have access to the internet, when having an email account is one of the requirements?
Can you look for work if you are either travelling or doing full time voluntary work?
Employment Minister Esther McVey told us this morning that this is all about supporting those who simply can't find work - research shows 43 percent of those who do work experience do find a job.
Labour says what's needed is not unpaid work, but a proper Job Guarantee Scheme which they want to introduce.
I suppose it may come as a surprise that dozens of charities including Oxfam are not signing up to Help to Work. Why? Partly it's because of concerns that those in genuine need may be denied benefits, but also because many in the voluntary sector believe volunteering should be, well, voluntary!
But all parties know that the benefits bill has to be cut to ensure that " scrounges" aren't supported but that people in need are. And that is tricky.