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The Social Security Department has launched a new project aimed at ensuring that anyone supported by supplementary benefit who can work, does work. Help and support will be given to help people become work ready and move into full or part-time jobs. These changes, which are giving effect to Resolutions of the States, will require a broader range of claimants than previously to engage with work or training related activities through work focused meetings.
Through these changes, most working age people on supplementary benefit, including non-working partners living in the same household, will have to attend compulsory work focused meetings. This is to keep work in mind regardless of the reason for needing supplementary benefit.
While the Department is hopeful that people will engage with these changes in a positive way, benefit penalties will be applied if anyone fails to take part without good cause.
The meetings will also be offered to working age people claiming supplementary benefit who may not be able to work in the medium or long-term due to sickness, disability or care responsibilities. Again, it is envisaged that by attending regular meetings, work will be kept in mind and people from these groups will be helped to actively plan for and return to work when appropriate.
The Department knows that some working age people getting supplementary benefit may not be able to work in the medium or long-term so will only offer the work focused meetings to people within these groups who would like to discuss their options.
Various elements of the Progress to Work project will open up opportunities for parents to work or engage in training. Parents who need to attend approved training courses, but have pre-school age children might be able to have their childcare costs paid by the Department.
Another part of the Progress to Work project is the development of a mandatory work scheme, which will provide a small number of short-term work placements within the community. These placements will re-introduce a work routine for some people who have been out of work for a long time. No wage will be paid, but benefit will remain in payment. It is not the intention to use mandatory work placements to carry out jobs which would normally be done by paid staff.
Through the project the Department will be in discussion with third sector organisations to encourage the development of new return to work initiatives with potential access to grant assistance through the Social Insurance Fund.
Deputy Allister Langlois, Social Security Minister says 'Although the legislation required to bring in some of these changes is expected to take effect towards the end of 2014, the Department has already increased the level of work it is doing with jobseekers, and from now on will be strongly urging the other groups of working age people getting supplementary benefit to take part in the Progress to Work activities ahead of this change in the law. The new focus on work and personal responsibility will be vital in ensuring that supplementary benefit is fit for purpose in the future and that it encourages and supports people who seek work.'
