IRRV Alert December 2 2008
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Work for welfare plans stepped up - BBC on the story
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Almost everyone on benefits should prepare themselves for work, says a report commissioned by the government. Only lone parents of children under one, people with severe disabilities and carers would be excused under plans drawn up by welfare expert Paul Gregg. He said unemployed people should do a 9-5 day looking for work or doing community work, to tackle joblessness. A Welfare Reform Bill due to be in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday which may include some of the recommendations. The government has already proposed making lone parents with children aged over seven look for work in order to claim benefits by October 2010. New approach The Gregg review of welfare reform options, suggests lone parents with children aged over one should prepare themselves for work, or face sanctions. They would be included in a new category of benefit claimants, alongside people on incapacity benefit deemed capable of work, who the report says should face clearer requirements to make themselves ready to work.
Requirements may include addressing confidence problems and taking part in skills training. Professor Gregg said a completely new approach was needed towards people such as parents of young children and those on incapacity benefit. The government is already facing backlash over its income support changes. One senior adviser has suggested they should be put back because of rising unemployment. Professor Gregg's recommendations have not yet been adopted by the government. But Mr Purnell welcomed them and said the "direction of travel" was right. "The approach that virtually everyone should be doing something in return for benefits is the right one," he said. He rejected calls to slow welfare reform during the economic downturn, telling the Independent newspaper he intended to go "further and faster". "Future reform will ensure that virtually everyone has a clear obligation to look for work, or prepare for work." Officials say the report's goal is close to the Scandinavian system, where there is more universal childcare provision than in the UK, combined with bigger obligations to work. Measures could include better childcare support for parents or help for those on incapacity benefit to find a job they are capable of doing. Ministers are also said to be considering tougher sanctions for unemployed people who fail to turn up to meetings and interviews. A first transgression would prompt a written warning and for those that continue not to meet the conditions would lose a week's Jobseeker's Allowance each time. | |||
The approach that virtually everyone should be doing something in return for benefits is the right one 