Governments Weekly Signing Idea

All unemployed people might have to “sign on” at the Jobcentre twice as often if they want to continue receiving benefits, under cost-cutting plans being considered by the Government. Why this will reduce costs is frankly baffling to the ABC?

Making 1.91 million job-seekers sign-on once a week, not a fortnight is frankly ‘bonkers’, as for many people visiting Jobcentre Plus can take out [with travel] an entire day of job searching, coming to meetings which are for many, a waste of time.  A mere box ticking ritual.

The results of the Work Programme clearly showed that if people are left to get on with it, they can get better results than by being ‘over managed’,

JCP ‘Work Coaches’ as they are now called, in general have little personal experience of current job seeking and their knowledge of the ‘world of work’ outside the DWP is often very limited. Especially now that local employers do not register jobs with their local JCP office to the degree they once did.

Research by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), published last week, claimed that people who were compelled to sign on every week found a job almost six days faster than those who only had to appear at the Jobcentre once a fortnight. We remain sceptical however. 

In 2013, George Osborne announced that weekly meetings with Jobcentre staff would become mandatory for those deemed not to be doing enough to secure employment – “about half” of the total number. But under the new plans, all unemployed people would be affected. Further trials will be conducted before any decision is taken, the DWP said.

Who would pay for these extra visits is not clear? Privatised public transport costs have grown far in excess of inflation. How can claimants whose benefits are shrinking in real terms, be expected to finance more travel costs? For the DWP extra staff would be needed. Who would pay for this? Debt caused the economic meltdown in 2008. Forcing people (the poorest in the country) futher into debt is no solution. 

The DWP think in terms of their own interests. The JCP have alienated themselves from employers because of this attitude and in regard to claimants what is needed is a change of attitude and better qualified advisers. Something we think the DWP would be reluctant to pay for.