UK fin min George Osborne will today use the Conservative Party annual conference to announce controversial new terms under which the long-term jobless are able to claim their benefit payments.
Those who have not found work after two years on an existing scheme, the Work Programme, will face another one called Help to Work.To still qualify for the jobseeker’s allowance they will have three options – work placements, such as cleaning up litter, daily visits to a job centre or taking part in compulsory training, for example, to improve their literacy.
People would have to remain on Help to Work until they found employment.Those who breach the rules will lose four weeks’ worth of benefits. Anyone who breaks the rules a second time faces losing three months’ worth.
Osborne is expected to say
For the first time, all-long term unemployed people who are capable of work will be required to do something in return for their benefits to help them find work.
