Work TV

With the election looming up it is a good time to ensure you are eligible to vote.

You can now register to vote online

To vote in an election or referendum, you must be on the electoral register.  It should only take you a few minutes to register to vote. You can now register to vote online. Please see the links below.

Who can register to vote? Anyone aged 16 or over (but you cannot vote until you are 18). British or qualifying Commonwealth citizens. This means Commonwealth citizens who have leave to remain in the UK or do not require such leave. Citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member states.

For further information you should contact your local electoral registration office. You can find their contact details by entering your postcode at About my vote: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

The electoral register is held at your local electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales). The Northern Ireland electoral register is held by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. You can find contact details for your local office by entering your postcode or on the About my vote website.

Or you can the Electoral Commission on 020 7271 0592 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Website: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Website: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

We are very pleased to announce that the National Association of Palliative Care NAPC has decided to join our directory and work with ABC to gain greater awareness of their work. If you visit Senior Citizens > Bereavement you can learn more about the organisations and their inspiring work. Please also support The Dying Matters awareness week starting May 18^th - 24th. You can find more information in: Events.

In their own words:

The Coalition’s Mission is to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life. This will involve a fundamental change in society in which dying, death and bereavement will be seen and accepted as the natural part of everybody’s life cycle. Changes in the way society views dying and death have impacted on the experience of people who are dying and bereaved. Our lack of openness has affected the quality and range of support and care services available to patients and families. It has also affected our ability to die where or how we would wish.

The Dying Matters Coalition is working to address this by encouraging people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die and their funeral plans with friends, family and loved ones.

Our friends at Inspire2Entreprise have brought this information nugget to our attention.

The Government is calling upon private investors and philanthropists to help solve issues such as homelessness and long-term unemployment. Social ventures are often much better positioned to provide the services required to meet the needs of local communities, provided that backing is available.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, admitted that the Government was not able to tackle the issues alone: “The best and most successful movements are always the ones that grow from the grassroots rather than top down. Social enterprises currently employ over 2m people and contribute £55bn to the economy each year. It’s a fantastic start but we’re only scratching the surface.”It is estimated that only a handful of the 18,000 angel investors in the UK are 'social angels' - investors who put their money in businesses with a social or environmental purpose, where profit is not the main motivator.

The Government would like to create a movement of 100 social investors that can inspire others to find ways to help local communities. - See more at: Clearly Social Angels website.

Inspire2enterprise can be reached: 0844 9800 760 or via the web: www.inspire2enterprise.org

We have found the latter to be an excellent service for those with an entrepreneurial streak. 

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.  

Results from a survey of attitudes of the over 50s to fuller working liveshas been published by DWP. It found over half of respondents not currently
retired had changed their mind over the last few years about when they expected to retire. Nearly half thought they would now retire later than before. It also
found support for working part time or flexible hours before stopping work altogether.

This US video gives you an idea what happened to many company pension schemes. Ellen Schultz, a former investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal, says that employers' practices also played a role. In her new book, Retirement Heist, Schultz contends that large companies, aided by benefits consultants and lawyers, have played a largely overlooked role in the decline of American pensions and benefits.

 The DWP New Enterprise Allowance Scheme was launched with a bang by entrepenuer Levi Roots of Dragons Den TV show fame.

From the DWP

To be eligible to receive financial support, jobseekers have to demonstrate that their business idea is viable. The financial support consists of a weekly allowance payable over 26 weeks’ worth up to £1,274. If they need start-up capital they may also apply for an unsecured loan of up to £1,000 to help them with start-up costs, such as buying their initial equipment. Participants can only access the NEA and loan when they have a business plan which has been approved by the mentoring partnership.  In addition, to qualify for the support they must close their claim to JSA and provide evidence that they have commenced trading.

Our experience

From our own experience - there was nothing put in writing about the scheme and it was not confirmed what interest rate claimants were going to be charged until they signed off. Personally my business plan (for another venture) was shortened to a ridiculous two pages. My mentor resigned shortly after I signed-off, and the tailored support (a favourite word of the DWP) failed to appear, along with the 'workshops' that had been promised. I felt I had been misled.

When I pointed out a £1,000 [loan] was not much to start a business with: I was told you could buy a 'bucket and a ladder with it'. Look out Richard Branson I thought!

It will be interesting to see how many of the NEA businesses financed by the taxpayer will still be going after the modest support runs out - or, was  the real idea, just to move people of the Claimant Count with an election looming?

One person the scheme worked for was; Levi Roots who was employed promoting it.

Successful businessman Levi Roots (real name Keith Valentine Graham Bilal Musa) was in fact sued by his former business partner; Tony Bailey, over who owned the recipe to his famed 'Reggae Reggae' sauce. Roots had claimed that the recipe was his mothers, on the Dragon Den TV show which shot him to fame. Roots was accused by best friend Mr Bailey, 52, of taking the recipe and breaching a business agreement between the two of them and financial adviser Sylvester Williams over its marketing.

Judge Mark Pelling attacked the entrepreneur for misleading the public, saying he was a 'fake' who 'regards the truth as an optional extra'. According to the Daily Mail the Judge said Mr Roots was guilty of 'fraudulent misrepresentation'. Father-of-seven Mr Roots had already been called a 'bare-faced liar' by lawyers acting for Bailey and Williams after he admitted the story behind Reggae Reggae Sauce was a 'marketing ploy'. Mr Roots did win the case, however the hearings exposed Mr Roots as someone prepared to present a completely fictitious story in order to secure financial investment.

An odd example you might think to be used in a government advertising campaign, or perhaps Roots, was after all the ideal ambassador for the DWP, who some may feel have made some less than opaque claims themselves, in order to encorage people to sign off?

The DWP have announced some new schemes

Fit For Work Goes Live

Fit for Work is designed to support people in work and help with sickness absence and provide an occupational health assessment and health and work advice to employees, employers and GPs.

The telephone advice service of Fit for Work was launched at the end of last year - visit www.fitforwork.org to find out what’s available and how to get in touch. This month, a referral service was launched in the Sheffield area, GPs can now refer eligible patients to an occupational health assessment, when they reach or are expected to reach four weeks of sickness absence. The service will be expanded across the county from spring 2015, drawing on lessons from the experiences and learning of the current Sheffield pilot.

Fit for Work is intended to complement, not replace, existing occupational health provision. It should be particularly beneficial to smaller businesses that have not previously had access to occupational health advice. As Fit for Work rolls out, employers will also start to see Return to Work Plans which can act as fit notes. Sign up to receive updates and get prepared by reading the guidance.

New Work Pilot for 18-21 Year Olds

Two pilots aimed further enhancing employment prospects for people aged aged 18-21 on Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) are now fully up and running have both started in November.

Training Pilot

Up to 15,000 new JSA claimants aged 18-21 who do not have level 2 English or maths qualifications are now required to undertake training to improve their skills. Training is being delivered in partnership with further education providers and will run for a maximum period of six months. Individuals receive up to for 16 hours per week, primarily on-line. Face to face support from tutors will be available for some learners, and those who are part of the scheme will continue to receive JSA with the expectancy they continue with their job search.

The Training Pilot will run in three Jobcentre districts,

 Kent, Mercia and Devon

 Cornwall and Somerset

 Black Country from March 2015

Work Related Activity Pilot

A Work Related Activity Pilot running in Kent only, targets 18-21 year olds who have been claiming JSA for six months or more. Those taking part work in a related activity that is most appropriate to them. The activity will focus on improving skills or it could potentially take the shape of a more work focused activity such as a traineeship, sector-based work academy, or work experience. There will be a mixture of both voluntary and mandatory interventions which in the long run will develop individuals’ skills and further improve their prospect of finding suitable employment.

Personalisation Pathfinder

As part of the Disability Confident campaign, DWP is launching the Personalisation Pathfinders to trial. The Pathfinders will run in three districts: Greater Wessex;

Surrey & Sussex and South West Wales and will provide additional support to people with a disability or health condition. Both ESA and JSA claimants will be included in the trial which will run for two years.

Pathfinder districts will develop much closer links with local strategic delivery partners including local authorities, Health, Education and Mental Health Services.

The pathfinder will provide funding to Disabled People’s User Led Organisations (DPULOs) and Voluntary Sector Organisations in the pilot districts to offer peer support and role models.

There will be increased engagement with specialist local service providers, better mapping of local provision and easier access to bespoke support where needed. There will also be stronger links with local employers to support them employing and retaining more sick and disabled people.

 A further £25bn spending cuts - much of it from the welfare budget - will be needed after the next election, Chancellor George Osborne has warned in a BBC report.

The Chancellor has suggested making welfare savings by cutting housing benefit for under-25s and restricting council housing for those earning over £65,000 a year.

Mr Osborne has argued the savings needed after 2015 can be found entirely from spending cuts, with welfare accounting for about half of the £25bn targeted - the remainder coming from a further squeeze on departmental budgets.

The £25bn figure is in line with the already announced intention to balance the government's books by 2018. It suggests cuts will continue at the same rate as during the current Parliament.

But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said targeting the working-age poor was "extreme... unrealistic and unfair".

The Lib Dem leader said he had a "very different vision" from the Conservatives about how to balance the books during the next Parliament and believed the wealthy should pay more in tax.

The rich of course have been having their taxes cut and also being reduced is Corporation Tax.

Corporation Tax rate

The Corporation Tax rate may change on 1 April each year.

Key Points for September to November 2014

• Comparing the estimates for September to November 2014 with those for June to August 2014, employment continued to rise and unemployment continued to fall. These changes maintain the general direction of movement since late 2011/early 2012.
• There were 30.80 million people in work. This was 37,000 more than for June to August 2014, the smallest quarterly increase since March to May 2013. Comparing September to November 2014 with a year earlier, there were 512,000 more people in work.
• The proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 in work (the employment rate), was 73.0%, unchanged from June to August 2014 but higher than for a year earlier (72.0%).
• There were 1.91 million unemployed people. This was 58,000 fewer than for June to August 2014, the smallest quarterly fall since July to September 2013. Comparing September to November 2014 with a year earlier, there were 418,000 fewer unemployed people.
• The unemployment rate was 5.8%, lower than for June to August 2014 (6.0%) and lower than for a year earlier (7.1%). The unemployment rate is the proportion of the economically active population (those in work plus those seeking and available to work) who were unemployed.
• There were 9.09 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were out of work and not seeking or available to work (known as economically inactive). This was 66,000 more than for June to August 2014 and 41,000 more than for a year earlier.
• The proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive (the inactivity rate) was 22.4%, slightly higher than for June to August 2014 (22.2%) and for a year earlier (22.3%).
• Comparing September to November 2014 with a year earlier, pay for employees in Great Britain increased by 1.7% including bonuses and by 1.8% excluding bonuses.

As we can see from this table undermployment is very high. 

Dear Friends,

I have just created the petition "End DWP Benefit Sanctions" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too? https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/end-dwp-benefit-sanctions

We are working with Professor David Stuckler MPH PhD HonMFPH of Oxford University and his team. David is presenting the findings of his report to the DWP Select Committeee on January 21st 2015

Press Release

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Sanctions linked to drop in unemployment benefit but few return to work

The government’s imposition of sanctions on Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants has led to a significant rise in people leaving unemployment benefits, but they are not returning to work, according to researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Sanctions are used to punish claimants who do not meet government conditions for actively seeking work and result in claimants having their benefit payments cut for a minimum of four weeks.

The senior author of the new working paper, Professor David Stuckler from Oxford, will appear as an expert witness before the Work and Pensions Committee today. He will brief MPs on the destinations of benefit claimants who receive sanctions.

Since 1996, successive governments have placed conditions on those receiving unemployment benefits. Starting in 2011, the UK Coalition Government introduced a series of reforms, increasing the conditions and penalties for failing to meet them. The study, based on official monthly and quarterly data from databases covering UK local authorities between 2005 and 2014, tracks the numbers claiming unemployment benefit, comparing them with rates of employment and the prevalence of sanctions.

Between June 2011 and March 2014, the official data shows over 1.9 million sanctions were imposed on people receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance. The researchers’ analysis found there was a 40% increase in the rate of people being sanctioned after June 2011 compared with the previous seven years (which also covers years before the reforms came in). The research also shows that after 2011, an estimated 43% of people who received sanctions went on to leave the JSA altogether. The researchers also looked at Job Centre Plus records of the reasons given by former JSA recipients for no longer claiming JSA. These responses were grouped into ‘finding employment’, ‘unknown destinations’ and ‘other reasons’. Fewer than 20% of this group of people who were no longer in receipt of JSA were recorded as finding employment. Strikingly, 80% of respondents left for other or unspecified reasons, says the study.

Study author Dr Rachel Loopstra, from the University of Oxford, said: ‘The data did not give us the full picture of why sanctioned people have stopped claiming unemployment benefit. We can say, however, that there was a large rise in the number of people leaving JSA for reasons that were not linked to employment in association with sanctioning. On this basis, it appears that the punitive use of sanctions is driving people away from social support.’

Professor Stuckler said: ‘Sanctions do not appear to help people return to work. There is a real concern that sanctioned persons are disappearing from view.’

Coauthor Professor Martin McKee, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, added: ‘ There is a need for a cost-benefit analysis of sanctioning, looking at it not just in narrow terms of unemployment benefit, but also the bigger picture, focusing on  employment, health, and other social costs. Such a review would look at whether those no longer in receipt of benefits now rely on other forms of welfare support, which could lead to potentially hidden, spill-over costs.’
He added: ‘The Coalition government has embarked upon an unprecedented experiment to reform social security. I hope policy makers will be informed by these findings and see the value of investigating the consequences.’

The study shows widespread variation in how local authorities used sanctions. In Derby, Preston, Chorley and Southampton, researchers found particularly high rates of people being referred for sanctions. In some months, over 10% of claimants living in these areas were sanctioned – the highest rates nationwide.  

For more information, contact the University of Oxford News Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone: 01865 280534 or contact the ABC