No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility
“No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility”, published 21 July 2008, was a wide ranging consultation on the future of welfare. This Green Paper set out plans aimed to ensure that the majority of people of working age and their families will no longer be on benefits for life.
The paper sought views on and proposed the following:
Employment and support allowance (ESA)
enact powers within the Welfare Reform Act 2007 to require all new customers in the
employment and support allowance (ESA) work related activity group to undertake general work related activity
no one who is severely disabled will be expected to take part in work related activity
benefit uprating to be decided on the Rossi index rather than the Retail Price Index (the Rossi index is the Retail Price Index less the element representing housing costs)
the first contribution condition test for ESA will be reduced from three years to two
modernisation of the qualifying conditions so that people will have to work for around six months before they can qualify for
contributory ESA
between 2009 and 2013 IB claimants will be reassessed using the new ESA work capability assessment and those who pass the assessment will be transferred over to ESA (the others will move onto JSA)
IB claimants who are placed in the support group will receive a higher basic rate of benefit
claimants who get the age addition will begin to have their rate of benefits brought into line with those for ESA from April 2009
Abolition of income support (IS)
replacing IS with a dual system of ESA for sick and disabled people and an expanded jobseeker's allowance (JSA) which will include those who cannot work because of their responsibilities, such as caring for young children or those providing long term care
the replacement of IS is seen as a step towards a single working age benefit in the future
Jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
all new claimants to have a skills health check
after six weeks there will be mandatory back to work group session to "reinforce the importance of work and encourage people to use the help that Jobcentre Plus offers"
at three months claimants to enter the "directed job search stage" where they must widen the scope of jobs they look for and sign on weekly for a period of up to six weeks
at six months claimants to enter the "supported job search stage" when they will allocated a specific personal adviser and be referred to suitable jobs, with a 26 week benefit sanction for non attendance or failure to take a job (there will be an additional two week sanction for failure to comply with an agreed activity in the claimant's action plan)
claimants who have a history of long term unemployment and 18 year olds who have been out of education, work or training for six months will be fast tracked onto the "supported job search stage"
after a year claimants will be transferred over to a public or voluntary sector provider and required to do at least four weeks "full time activity", but which can be as long as needed if it is relevant in preparation for the goal of sustained work
further requirements after two years, with proposals to test full time work programmes with private and voluntary sector providers
tougher sanctions for those who fail to take steps to get back to work or refuse a job
carers who migrate from IS will not be expected to take part in work related activity
modernisation of the qualifying conditions so that people will have to work for around six months before they can qualify for
contributory JSA
Other benefits
a discussion of changes to bereavement benefits, industrial injuries disablement benefits and reform of the social fund
increased funding for access to work and Workstep programmes ( access to work will receive double its current funding)
return to work credit will be available for IB and ESA claimants for 52 weeks after their return to work
attendance of compulsory training with consultation on whether this will apply to those on IB, ESA and lone parents with children above the age of five
the possibility of allowing claimants to choose their back to work provider
exploring ways that disabled adults can be given greater control over the combined budget which the government spends on their support
drug users will be required to undergo treatment to overcome their addiction and get back into work
Lone parents
A “full disregard” for child maintenance, so that payments will not be taken into account when calculating how much out-of-work benefits a parent should get
Devolved assemblies
Consultation with Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland administration will be required for
changes in relation to employment, education and skills
changes to the benefit system (Northern Ireland only)
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