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Tories target long-term jobless Tories target long-term jobless
(about 1 hour later)
The long term unemployed would be forced to work for their benefits under plans outlined by the Conservatives.The long term unemployed would be forced to work for their benefits under plans outlined by the Conservatives.
People claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years would have to work in the community for 12 months. People claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years would have to do 12 months community work.
Tory leader David Cameron said he wanted to help people get back into work and end the "something for nothing culture" of benefit "dependency".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 Secretary Peter Hain said it would be expensive and would not help people get jobs. But Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said the scheme would be expensive and would not help people get jobs.
Under the Tory plans, the two-year limit on job seekers' allowance would apply to "continuous and cumulative periods of unemployment".Under the Tory plans, the two-year limit on job seekers' allowance would apply to "continuous and cumulative periods of unemployment".
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.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 Where is the dignity in sitting at home, dependent on the state, not having a job? David CameronConservative 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 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. 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.
'Reasonable offer'
The jobless would also have 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.
The proposals are aimed at the 68,000 on Jobseekers' Allowance for more than two years and the 16,000 on the benefit for more than five years.
The Tories have also unveiled plans to cut the number of people on incapacity benefit by 200,000.
All 2.64 million incapacity benefit claimants would be reassessed by doctors and, if passed fit for work, placed on Jobseekers' Allowance, a benefit cut of £20 a week.
In addition, jobless people who refuses a "reasonable" offer of employment would lose one month's benefit for the first job offer, three months for the second, and up to three years for the third in a "three strikes and you're out" policy.
'Thought-through package''Thought-through package'
Mr Cameron said the package of measures was "tough" but included decisions "I think we have to take". Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast: "We cannot go on as we are with 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit, 500,000 of them are under 35.
"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. If you divert people into mandatory community activities they don't get a job at the end of it Peter HainWork and Pensions Secretary
"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. "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.""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 benefits, 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?"
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".He said the idea was to "get people back in touch with work".
Valuable work 'Nasty party'
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. Asked if those forced to work for benefits would have to wear uniforms, as claimed in newspaper reports, Mr Cameron said it would be down to the companies running the schemes.
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. He denied the plans represented a return to the Conservatives' "nasty party" image.
Those who refuse to take part would have their benefits cut. "What is nasty is leaving people on benefits for years and years and giving up on them," he told Sky News.
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". Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said the Tory plans were "hugely costly" and would not work.
A similar scheme in New York cut the number of people on welfare, although not the overall bill to the taxpayer.
'Real hardship'
But Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said the Tory plans were "hugely costly" and would not work.
"If you divert people into mandatory community activities they don't get a job at the end of it," said Mr Hain."If you divert people into mandatory community activities they don't get a job at the end of it," said Mr Hain.
He said the way to get people back into work was through new skills and training.He said the way to get people back into work was through new skills and training.
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.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.
"We are talking about families in real hardship struggling to bring up their kids," she said."We are talking about families in real hardship struggling to bring up their kids," she said.