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Tories target long-term jobless Tories target long-term jobless
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A Conservative government would adopt a US-style scheme to force the long-term unemployed to work for their benefits. The long term unemployed would be forced to work for their benefits under plans outlined by the Conservatives.
People who claim Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years would have to take part in a 12-month community work scheme, under Tory plans. People claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years would have to work in the community for 12 months.
The party says those who refused to participate in their "welfare to work" programme would lose their benefits. Tory leader David Cameron said he wanted to help people get back into work and end the "something for nothing culture" of benefit "dependency".
But Work and Pensions Minister Peter Hain said it would be very costly and would not get people into work. But Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said it would be expensive and would not help people get jobs.
The announcement is part of a Conservative package of welfare reform proposals due to be unveiled by David Cameron, and uses an idea adopted in New York. Under the Tory plans, the two-year limit on job seekers' allowance would apply to "continuous and cumulative periods of unemployment".
The two-year limit on job seekers' allowance would apply to "continuous and cumulative periods of unemployment", the Tories say. The party says it wants to stop people claiming for years at a time, by signing off for short periods or taking a job for a short period, then going back on benefits.
Where is the dignity in sitting at home, dependent on the state, not having a job? David Cameron, Conservative leader
Under the Tory plans, the long-term unemployed would have to take part in a 12-month programme involving "valuable improvement and amenity work in the areas where they live".
The party has also unveiled plans to cut the number of people claiming incapacity benefit by making all claimants attend an "in-depth assessment" to evaluate their needs and capabilities and decide if they are able to work.
'Thought-through package'
Mr Cameron said the package of measures was "tough" but included decisions "I think we have to take".
"We cannot go on as we are with 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit, 500,000 of them are under 35," he told BBC Breakfast.
"Are we really saying there are half a million people in this country under 35 who are simply too ill to work. I don't think that's right.
"I think we have got to make changes and this is a genuinely thought-through and worked-out package which I think will help get more people into work and help them make better lives for themselves and their families."
He said the Tories' aim was to "help people and their families by getting them into work, to help cut the bills to the taxpayer and help equip our country with the workforce we need for the future".
Asked if working for £50 a week, rather than the national minimum wage, would be an affront to people's dignity, he said: "Where is the dignity in sitting at home, dependent on the state, not having a job?"
He said the idea was to "get people back in touch with work".
Valuable workValuable work
They argue this will help stop people claiming for years at a time, by signing off for short periods or taking a job for a short period, then going back on benefits. People claiming other out-of-work benefits would be expected to spend most of the working week at "back to work centres", run by independent groups, where they would receive training and guidance to help find a job.
People would have to take part in a 12-month programme involving "valuable improvement and amenity work in the areas where they live".
We want to provide real help for those who want to work - and be tough on those who are trying to avoid working Chris Grayling
Under other plans due to be announced, people getting other out-of-work benefits would be expected to spend most of the working week at "back to work centres", run by independent groups, where they would receive training and guidance to help find a job.
All job seekers would be screened as soon as they start claiming - those with a "track record" of claiming benefits would be referred to the centres straight away. Others would be given a "grace period" to find a job.All job seekers would be screened as soon as they start claiming - those with a "track record" of claiming benefits would be referred to the centres straight away. Others would be given a "grace period" to find a job.
Those who refuse to take part will have their benefits cut, the Tories say. Those who refuse to take part would have their benefits cut.
Incapacity benefit Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said this would "put an end to the situation where people can sit at home and make a career out of claiming out of work benefits".
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said the proposals would transform hundreds of thousands of lives and would help tackle poverty and deprivation. A similar scheme in New York cut the number of people on welfare, although not the overall bill to the taxpayer.
"All of this should also put an end to the situation where people can sit at home and make a career out of claiming out of work benefits," he said. 'Real hardship'
"We want to provide real help for those who want to work - and be tough on those who are trying to avoid working." But Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said the Tory plans were "hugely costly" and would not work.
But for Labour Mr Hain said the government wanted to get people back into work by giving them new skills and training. "If you divert people into mandatory community activities they don't get a job at the end of it," said Mr Hain.
He told the BBC: "This is hugely costly and the Tories can't fund it, it also won't work. He said the way to get people back into work was through new skills and training.
"If you divert people into mandatory community activities they don't get a job at the end of it." Kate Green, of the Child Poverty Action Group, said British rules on claiming incapacity benefit were already among the strictest in the world, and levels of fraud were small compared with the amount that went unclaimed.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said although the New York scheme had reduced welfare claimants, it had not reduced the overall bill to the taxpayer. "We are talking about families in real hardship struggling to bring up their kids," she said.
Matthew Elliott from the TaxPayers Alliance said a similar scheme in the US state of Wisconsin had reduced the welfare bill and led to the creation of new jobs.
He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: "Even the government have admitted themselves that a third of people on incapacity benefit could go back to work tomorrow."
But Kate Green from the Child Poverty Action Group said that British rules on claiming incapacity benefit were already among the strictest in the world, and that levels of fraud were small compared with the amount that went unclaimed.
"What you have is a lot of people who are entitled to benefits but are repeatedly told they are scrounging or taking the state for a ride," she said.
"We are talking about families in real hardship struggling to bring up their kids."
Kate Bell of the National Council for One Parent Families told BBC Radio Five Live that there was no point forcing claimants back to work without giving them childcare alternatives.
"People need help and support," she said. "We are talking about parents with children as young as five."