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Work for welfare plans stepped up Claimants 'should be work ready'
(about 2 hours later)
Almost everyone on benefits should prepare themselves for work, says a report commissioned by the government. Almost everyone on benefits should be preparing 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. Lone parents with children aged one to seven should be preparing to re-enter employment, 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. Only lone parents of children under one, people with severe disabilities and some carers would be excused.
A Welfare Reform Bill due to be in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday which may include some of the recommendations. A Welfare Reform Bill, due to be in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, could 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. Until recently lone parents did not have to seek work to claim benefits until their youngest child was 16 - but that is being reduced to 12.
By October 2010, those whose youngest child is seven or over will have to seek work.
New approachNew approach
The Gregg review of welfare reform options, suggests lone parents with children aged over one should prepare themselves for work, or face sanctions. Professor Gregg's review of welfare reform options, suggests lone parents with children aged between one and seven should prepare themselves for work.
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. They would be included in a new category of claimants, alongside people on incapacity benefit deemed capable of work, where an immediate return to work was not appropriate but was possible "with sufficient time, encouragement and support".
The approach that virtually everyone should be doing something in return for benefits is the right one James PurnellWork and Pensions Secretary They would have to attend work-focused interviews, agree an action plan to help them return to work and take part in "work related activity" between each interview.
Requirements may include addressing confidence problems and taking part in skills training. I did try, but nobody took me on class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/7746174.stm">'No-one in our house works'
Professor Gregg said a completely new approach was needed towards people such as parents of young children and those on incapacity benefit. If they did not, they should be "potentially subject to sanctions, subject to safeguards", the review adds.
It also says there should be a group expected to make a prompt return to work - including lone parents with older children and Jobseeker's Allowance claimants.
And there should be a group with no requirements on them to seek work - made up of some carers, lone parents and partners with children under one and people with serious illnesses.
'Playing the system'
Professor Gregg, from Bristol University, said a completely new approach was needed towards people such as parents of young children and those on incapacity benefit.
He said sanctions should be clearer and more effective.
Unemployed people who do not turn up to meetings should get a written warning for the first one missed, and lose a week's Jobseeker's Allowance for every time after that they did not follow their conditions.
This approach to welfare assumes a utopian world of unrestricted childcare and widely available jobs where only the lazy opt for life on the dole Brendan BarberTUC
After a fourth offence, they would be told to carry out community-based work if they were "deemed to be playing the system" and lose four weeks' Jobseeker's Allowance if they refused.
Professor Gregg said they should do "work equal" activities, such as spending all day in an office looking for jobs: "It would involve doing an equivalent 9-to-5 job search with someone looking over your shoulder to make sure you were not just on Facebook."
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.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.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.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."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". He rejected calls to slow welfare reform during the economic downturn saying: "When jobs are harder to find, we need to invest in those people who will one day be back in work so they don't lose touch with the labour market."
"Future reform will ensure that virtually everyone has a clear obligation to look for work, or prepare for work." He said the report was an "important milestone" and he would respond in full later this month.
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. But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This approach to welfare assumes a utopian world of unrestricted childcare and widely available jobs where only the lazy opt for life on the dole.
Measures could include better childcare support for parents or help for those on incapacity benefit to find a job they are capable of doing. "The reality is very different. Thousands of people are joining the dole queue every day through no fault of their own."
Ministers are also said to be considering tougher sanctions for unemployed people who fail to turn up to meetings and interviews. The review and the government's welfare reform proposals were the "main item" at Tuesday's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said.
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.
Are you a lone parent on benefits? Will you be affected if these proposals are adopted?Are you a lone parent on benefits? Will you be affected if these proposals are adopted?
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