News

14 May 2010

The Tories and LibDems have published their first joint statement on benefits and pensions.

Not surprisingly the statement focuses heavily on getting claimants back to work.  Plans include:

Ending all current welfare to work programmes and replacing them with one single scheme.

Making payments to welfare to work providers more closely linked to success in getting claimants into work.

Taking into account future benefits savings when deciding how to fund the new  welfare to work scheme – something which is likely to mean bigger bonuses paid out to private welfare to work providers.

Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants facing the most significant barriers to work will be referred to the newly created welfare to work programme immediately, not after 12 months as is currently the case. Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants aged under 25 will be referred to the programme after a maximum of six months.

The document also states that the two parties agree that “receipt of benefits for those able to work should be conditional on the willingness to work.”

You can download a copy of the full statement from the Conservative party website.