Benefit claimants, including single mothers, will have to "play their part" in the economy or face losing some state payments, the government says.
Benefit claimants, including single mothers, will have to "play their part" in the economy or face losing some state payments, the government says.
Under plans to be unveiled on Wednesday, people will be asked to do some form of work or prepare themselves for finding a job in future.
Under plans to be unveiled on Wednesday, people will be asked to do some form of work or prepare themselves for finding a job in future.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said it was vital "there aren't people in a boat and not rowing".
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said it was vital "there aren't people in a boat and not rowing".
But left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell said the plans would cause "revulsion".
But the Tories said Labour had made it "more difficult" to find work.
'Changes lives'
'Changes lives'
The proposals, to be outlined in a white paper, are expected to include penalties for people who turn down reasonable job offers or interviews, potentially including the loss of benefits or mandatory community service.
The government's proposals, to be outlined in a white paper, are expected to include penalties for people who turn down reasonable job offers or interviews, potentially including the loss of benefits or mandatory community service.
Those on incapacity benefits will be expected to prepare themselves for finding work while non-working mothers with children as young as one will be encouraged to return to the workplace when feasible - not necessarily immediately.
Those on incapacity benefits will be expected to prepare themselves for finding work while non-working mothers with children as young as one will be encouraged to return to the workplace when feasible - not necessarily immediately.
It is lunacy to force people into jobs that are not there and to force lone parents to take up childcare which is either unaffordable or non-existent John McDonnell MP
It is lunacy to force people into jobs that are not there and to force lone parents to take up childcare which is either unaffordable or non-existent John McDonnell MP
Only severely disabled people and single mothers with babies under one are likely to avoid any benefits conditions.
Only severely disabled people and single mothers with babies under one are likely to avoid any benefits conditions.
Ministers say virtually everyone on benefits should be expected to do something in return for the support and those who can work should look to do so.
Ministers say virtually everyone on benefits should be expected to do something in return for the support and those who can work should look to do so.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Purnell said: "Clearly at a time of economic difficulty, people want to make sure that everyone's playing their part, that there aren't people who are in a boat and not rowing.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Purnell said: "Clearly at a time of economic difficulty, people want to make sure that everyone's playing their part, that there aren't people who are in a boat and not rowing.
"Everybody needs to be playing their part and our system is making sure that virtually everyone is doing something in return for their benefits, because we know it changes their lives and we know it gets them back into work."
"Everybody needs to be playing their part and our system is making sure that virtually everyone is doing something in return for their benefits, because we know it changes their lives and we know it gets them back into work."
'Dependency culture'
Mr Purnell added: "Some people say we should be slowing down the pace of welfare reform because we are entering a recession.
Mr Purnell added: "Some people say we should be slowing down the pace of welfare reform because we are entering a recession.
"I say we should be doing exactly the opposite. If it's harder for people to find work, we should be providing them with more support, but also making sure they stay in touch with the world of work."
"I say we should be doing exactly the opposite. If it's harder for people to find work, we should be providing them with more support, but also making sure they stay in touch with the world of work."
For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "Britain is now a country where it is more and more difficult for young people to do better than their parents did.
"Worse still, we have generations of the same family trapped in a dependency culture.
"For 10 years the government has been telling us it has the policies to solve the problem. But it hasn't worked. Britain really now needs a fresh direction."
'Growing dismay'
'Growing dismay'
But Labour MPs uneasy with the direction of government policy have promised to fight the proposals.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs uneasy with the direction of government policy have promised to fight the proposals.
At a time of acute economic insecurity, Mr McDonnell said the government had "got its priorities wrong".
At a time of acute economic insecurity, Mr McDonnell said the government had "got its priorities wrong".
"It is lunacy to force people into jobs that are not there and to force lone parents to take up childcare which is either unaffordable or non-existent," he said.
"It is lunacy to force people into jobs that are not there and to force lone parents to take up childcare which is either unaffordable or non-existent," he said.
"There is widespread and growing dismay at the government's dismantling of the welfare state built by the post-war Labour government.
"There is widespread and growing dismay at the government's dismantling of the welfare state built by the post-war Labour government.
"This smacks of unfairness and another 10 pence tax rate."
"This smacks of unfairness and another 10 pence tax rate."
Centrepiece
Ministers have made welfare reform a centrepiece of their legislative proposals over the next year, arguing that to abandon such a course of action in the face of a recession would be wrong.
Ministers have made welfare reform a centrepiece of their legislative proposals over the next year, arguing that to abandon such a course of action in the face of a recession would be wrong.
A recent government-commissioned report argued that people should have their benefits cut for four weeks if they repeatedly refused to make efforts to find work.
A recent government-commissioned report argued that people should have their benefits cut for four weeks if they repeatedly refused to make efforts to find work.
But charities are concerned that excessive pressure on single parents to find work would be damaging.
But charities are concerned that excessive pressure on single parents to find work would be damaging.
"The government's get-tough approach inappropriately puts sensitive decisions about parenting and children's needs in the hands of job centre officials," said Fiona Weir, chief executive of pressure group One Parent Families Gingerbread.
"The government's get-tough approach inappropriately puts sensitive decisions about parenting and children's needs in the hands of job centre officials," said Fiona Weir, chief executive of pressure group One Parent Families Gingerbread.
"We know that single parents want to work when it is right for their children but asking them to jump through additional job centre hoops is not the way to help them achieve their ambitions."
"We know that single parents want to work when it is right for their children but asking them to jump through additional job centre hoops is not the way to help them achieve their ambitions."
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you believe benefits should be cut if claimants refuse to work? Should more be done to get single parents back to work? What are your own experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you believe benefits should be cut if claimants refuse to work? Should more be done to get single parents back to work? What are your own experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
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