Unemployment February figures

The figures released on February
This video is the longer video

There is a clear positive sign
There is information in this months stats about the EU8 figures. That is the East Auropean member states
Full time figures are looking better


Refusing to retire

Vacancy odds for a coffee shopping

More than 1,700 people applied for eight jobs at a new coffee shop, in an indication of how tough the jobs market remains.

The next time you listen to the dole scrounger issue pumped out by certain politicians consider the challenge of the Job Seeker and the odds on getting a job...Read this article and reflect on how we can all help............

Its easy to feel down and lack enthusiasm...the odds seem to stacked against applicants


Coffee shop chain Costa said it received 1,701 applications for the posts at their new branch in Mapperley, Nottingham, after advertising in early December.

It comes ahead of new unemployment figures published by the Office for National Statistics tomorrow.

A spokeswoman for Costa said the firm was shocked at the response for the three full-time and five part-time posts at the shop, which is due to open on Woodborough Road on Friday.

She said applicants for the posts, with wages between £6.10 and £10 an hour, ranged from new graduates to former managers who were clearly overqualified for the positions.

The applicants included employees of music chain HMV and Clinton Cards, which have both been among a number of high street stores forced to call in the administrators due to the tough economic climate.

More than 1,000 jobs are to be lost at HMV as administrators announced it is to close 66 of the music chain's 220 UK stores over the next two months. Hundreds of jobs were also lost when Clinton went into administration last year but many were saved when the brand was bought by a US firm.

The spokeswoman for Costa said: "We were shocked at the response - I don't think we expected anything like the number of applications we received. Applicants ranged from new graduates to ex-shop managers among others, and we've been really encouraged to see so many people wanting to work at their local Costa store."

Government's "Back to Work" Regulations are Unlawful

The government's back-to-work schemes have suffered a setback after Appeal Court judges agreed with a university graduate's claim that unpaid schemes were legally flawed.....




Clearly the Government has a problem. The problem for us as a country is sadly we pick up the bill
Assessing the suitability of placements is one issue here the other is unpaid work and exploitation

Where you have educated people with work experience there is a fundamental issue with this programme
You only have to look at the select committee material featured through this Network of sites the see the issue
Look at this BBC article


"Cait Reilly, 24, claimed that requiring her to work for nothing at a Poundland store breached laws on forced labour.

Judges quashed the regulations underpinning the work schemes.

But Miss Reilly's solicitors and the government have clashed on the implications of the ruling.

The judges' decision effectively prevents the government continuing with the programme in its current form. However, ministers are bringing new, more precise, regulations to Parliament later in the day to allow these schemes to carry on.

Yet, the case will be seen as a setback for the Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP's) flagship back-to-work schemes.

Meanwhile, the government said it was seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Benefit withdrawal
Miss Reilly, a University of Birmingham geology graduate, and 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamie Wilson, from Nottingham, both succeeded in their claims that the unpaid schemes were legally flawed. This was because the regulations behind the schemes did not comply with the Act of Parliament that gave the DWP the power to introduce the programme.

They had lost their original case, but part of this decision has now been reversed by the Appeal Court.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis

Kevin Peachey
Personal finance reporter, BBC News
Solicitors acting for Cait Reilly bounded out of court to declare that anyone stripped of their benefits for failing to take part in back-to-work schemes can now claim the money back.

But, as ever with legal battles, it won't be as simple as that.

The government says it has no intention of making retrospective benefit payments.

Why? Firstly, because it is appealing against the court's decision. Secondly, because it is trying to find some alternative legal wriggle room.

So, there will be certainly be no immediate windfall for jobseekers who were unwilling to take part in these schemes.

The government knows it needs to rewrite its unlawful regulations quickly. Only then will jobseekers told, from now, to take part in back-to-work programmes still face the threat of losing their benefit if they refuse.

Miss Reilly said that in November 2011 she had to leave her voluntary work at a local museum and work unpaid at the Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham, under a scheme known as the "sector-based work academy".

She was told that if she did not carry out the work placement - which, she said, involved stacking shelves and cleaning floors - she would lose her Jobseeker's Allowance.

Mr Wilson was told that his Jobseeker's Allowance would be stopped after he refused to take part in the Community Action Programme, which his lawyers said would have involved him working unpaid for 30 hours per week for six months.

Solicitor Tessa Gregory, of Public Interest Lawyers, which represented the duo, said: "This judgment sends Iain Duncan Smith back to the drawing board to make fresh regulations which are fair and comply with the court's ruling.

"Until that time, nobody can be lawfully forced to participate in schemes affected such as the Work Programme and the Community Action Programme.

"All of those who have been stripped of their benefits have a right to claim the money back that has been unlawfully taken away from them."

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

Ultimately, the judgment confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits”

Mark Hoban
Employment Minister
This could not happen until the end of the legal process. The solicitor said she was confident this case would ultimately be won, but the government said there would be no compensation.

"We have no intention of giving back money to anyone who has had their benefits removed because they refused to take getting into work seriously. We are currently considering a range of options to ensure this does not happen," said a spokesman for the DWP.

The government also pointed out that the Appeal Court judges backed the High Court's view that requiring jobseekers to participate in the scheme did not breach their human rights.

It said that it would bring new regulations forward straight away, allowing these schemes to continue.

"The court has backed our right to require people to take part in programmes which will help get them into work. It is ridiculous to say this is forced labour. This ruling ensures we can continue with these important schemes," said Employment Minister Mark Hoban.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote


Those two weeks were a complete waste of my time as the experience did not help me get a job”

Cait Reilly
Government work schemes explained
"We are, however, disappointed and surprised at the court's decision on our regulations. There needed to be flexibility, so we could give people the right support to meet their needs and get them into a job. We do not agree with the court's judgement and are seeking permission to appeal, but new regulations will be tabled to avoid any uncertainty.

"Ultimately, the judgement confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits."

'Rethink needed'
Miss Reilly said she was delighted with the ruling, claiming that making her give up her voluntary work and sending her to Poundland was wrong.

"Those two weeks were a complete waste of my time, as the experience did not help me get a job," she said.

"I was not given any training and I was left with no time to do my voluntary work or search for other jobs.

"The only beneficiary was Poundland, a multimillion-pound company. Later I found out that I should never have been told the placement was compulsory.

"I don't think I am above working in shops like Poundland. I now work part-time in a supermarket. It is just that I expect to get paid for working."

She said she hoped the government would "rethink" how it tackled long-term unemployment.

"I agree we need to get people back to work, but the best way of doing that is by helping them, not punishing them."

A number of union leaders and campaigners called on the government to ditch schemes requiring people to work for no pay or lose benefits.

Nicola Smith, of the TUC, said this was a good time to take a step back and look again at mandatory back-to-work schemes.

Tom Walker, employment law partner at law firm Manches, said: "This judgment upholds what is perhaps the key tenet of employment, namely the 'work wage bargain'.

"If someone gives their labour to a company, they should be paid for it. However well intentioned a workplace scheme may be, it is very dangerous to introduce compulsory unpaid labour into the UK employment market."

Dame Anne Begg, who chairs the Work and Pensions Select Committee, said the court ruled that the regulations were not clear or specific enough.

But she also suggested that the government should look at why Miss Reilly was sent to a retailer to do a work placement when she was already doing voluntary work in a museum - the kind of activity that this scheme was aimed at encouraging."

'Huge setback' for DWP

We have no intention of giving back money to anyone who has had their benefits removed because they refused to take getting into work seriously.DWP spokesman

You turn

A legal battle now looms over whether jobless people who had benefits stopped because they refused to take part in the schemes are entitled to a refund.

Claiments solicitors said later the ruling means "all those people who have been sanctioned by having their jobseeker's allowance withdrawn for non-compliance with the back-to-work schemes affected will be entitled to reclaim their benefits".

Solicitors acting for Cait Reilly bounded out of court to declare that anyone stripped of their benefits for failing to take part in back-to-work schemes can now claim the money back.

But, as ever with legal battles, it won't be as simple as that.

The government says it has no intention of making retrospective benefit payments.

Why? Firstly, because it is appealing against the court's decision. Secondly, because it is trying to find some alternative legal wriggle room.

So, there will be certainly be no immediate windfall for jobseekers who were unwilling to take part in these schemes.

The government knows it needs to rewrite its unlawful regulations quickly. Only then will jobseekers told, from now, to take part in back-to-work programmes still face the threat of losing their benefit if they refuse.

The next stage
The regulations may involve the payback of Sanctions . With comments from TUC's Nicola Smith

startup scene reaches critical mass

Start up business developments are encouraging here in the U.K Newcastle in the North East of the country is seeing fresh start ups

Arguably the internet is the new market place for many many ideas and is a low cost option to launch a business. 

 Think about technology startup hubs in the UK, and the Silicon Roundabout and Tech City in London come to mind. But Newcastle has quietly built a reputation among entrepreneurs as the place to launch their businesses. A city once dominated by heavy industry offers not just an alternative, but for a growing number it is the preferred location over an over-crowded capital. Many of the startup founders come from all over the UK and abroad to participate in the country's first £1m accelerator programme, Ignite 100. But almost as many stay because of lower costs of living and a tight-knit network of fellow entrepreneurs and investors. "We are at the point where we've got critical mass in that there's a group of startups that feed off each other," said Richard Exley, an investment manager with NorthStar Ventures. "There is a sense now of building something rather than just being a part of something."

" ignite100 is a mentorship-led accelerator program for start-ups but with a big £100,000 difference. We provide seed capital, office space and mentors, and the runway necessary to sustain momentum after the end of the acceleration programme. ignite100 comes in the shape of an intensive 13 week programme based in Newcastle in the North East of England, supported by Finance for Business North East Technology Fund, managed by IP Group plc, and from the Finance for Business North East Accelerator Fund, managed by Northstar Ventures, together with a group of angel investors including Hotspur Capital Partners, Green Lane Capital, SCM Pharma co-owner Fiona Cruickshank and Alastair Waite of Onyx Group. We’ve learned that at the heart of ignite100 should be the exchange of experience, advice, know-how and counselling provided by over 50 great mentors including experienced entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. We initially provide teams funding of £5,000 per founder (up to a maximum of £15,000). The founders move to Newcastle for the 13 week programme where they receive intense mentoring and business support. Subject to the teams achieving pre-agreed milestones, the balance of the £100,000 will be released in the form of a convertible loan note (it’s a straightforward deal but please see the FAQs for more detail on this). Applications for our Autumn 2012 intake are open now here. The Finance for Business North East (FBNE) Technology and Proof of Concept Funds are two of the seven venture capital and loan funds established as part of the £125m FBNE programme. That programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 and the European Investment Bank. For further information, please see: www.northeastfinance.org"

 

Atos-MPs criticise disability benefits tests

MPs have criticised the test being used to see whether people claiming disability benefits are fit to work.

The Public Accounts Committee said the Work Capability Assessment had resulted in too many wrong decisions which were overturned on appeal.

Its chair Margaret Hodge accused the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of being "unduly complacent" and of hurting the "most vulnerable".

But employment minister Mark Hoban accused the MPs of "scaremongering".

The Work Capability Assessment tests was introduced in 2008 to assess entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance, after it was claimed the old system was failing.

The company Atos was paid £112.4m to carry out 738,000 assessments in 2011/12.

'Damaging confidence'

The committee found 38% of appeals against the DWP's decisions had been successful.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

This report completely fails to recognise the considerable improvements we have made to the work capability assessment since coming to power in 2010”

Mark HobanEmployment Minister

Ms Hodge, a Labour MP, accused the government of "poor decision-making", which was "damaging public confidence" in the system.

Although Atos has faced criticism, "most of the problems lie firmly within the Department for Work and Pensions", she said.

"The department's view that appeals against decisions are an inherent part of the process is unduly complacent," she said.

"The work capability assessment process hits the most vulnerable claimants hardest.

"The one-size-fits-all approach fails to account adequately for mental health conditions or those which are rare or fluctuating."

'Scaremongering'

Although the department had "started to improve", she said, claimants "too often" found the assessment process so stressful that their health deteriorated.

"A key problem is that the department has been unable to create a competitive market for medical assessment providers, leaving Atos in the position of being a near monopoly supplier," she said.

"The department is too often just accepting what Atos tells it. It seems reluctant to challenge the contractor. It has failed to withhold payment for poor performance and rarely checked that it is being correctly charged."

In 2010, the government commissioned Professor Malcolm Harrington to review fitness-to-work benefit assessments. He subsequently called for an overhaul of the system to make it more "fair and humane".

Mr Hoban said the committee's report "completely" failed to recognise this.

For Labour, shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: "This damning report exposes the chaos and confusion at the heart of the Tory-led government."

He called for" fundamental change of the test before any more money is wasted and any more people are hurt".

Blog thought-

It is very clear from the select committees videos the issues that are being faced.

It is also clear that the policies are not being looked at in respect to the results.

Surely it is time that contractors were under more scrutiny

More claims that the work programme is failing disabled people

On Sunday, 5 live Investigates revealed evidence suggesting that some clients on the Work Programme are encouraged to become self-employed when it may not be appropriate for them.

The programme heard from people who had been advised to sign off from receiving Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and claim working tax credits instead, even if they had no realistic prospect of making money and would be unlikely to be working the necessary number of hours.

One disabled woman the programme spoke to, who didn't want to be named, claims that her advisor attempted to push her in to working for herself, even though she wasn't interested and didn't feel able to run her own business.

Despite the fact that she had not had a job for eight years, on her very first Work Programme appointment she was told by her advisor that going self-employed would leave her financially better off.

She said: "He'd say, 'because you have a disability, it'd be better for you because if you're ill, you don't have to work'. I couldn't understand how that would be viable because obviously, if I was self-employed, I'd have to work to bring an income in."

Work Programme providers are paid for getting clients off unemployment benefits and into continuous work. They usually receive payments after a client has been in employment for six months. But bonuses of up to £3,500 can be given if a client from the hardest to help group, usually an ESA claimant, comes off benefits for just three months.

Some of the people reporter Hannah Barnes spoke to, suspect that they are being pushed into self-employment inappropriately, so that work providers can get their back to work bonus.

In reality, these clients don't gain employment, they simply go from being on Employment Support Allowance or Job Seeker's Allowance to claiming working tax credit. When receiving this benefit, they are no-longer considered unemployed and can come off their work provider's books after three months or six months respectively.

Speaking to Hannah, the anonymous disabled woman said that her condition is painful and incurable. Her advisor, who she described as being like a used car salesman, suggested that she could earn about £20 a week ironing or selling things online, but claim 30 hours a week in working tax credit - a situation which seemed to her "quite fraudulent" and one which would make her look like she had a full time job when she didn't.

Sue Royston from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, confirmed that, as a disabled person, this woman would indeed earn more in tax credits than she had on benefits during the first few months of self employment. This is because the system expects working to cost more due to her disability and also, it is assumed that a business won't earn much money in its first 12 months so she is afforded extra support to help her make a success of her business.

But while job seekers are removed from the Work Programme if they appear to have been in full-time employment for three or six months, it might be up to 12 months before they are checked on by the HMRC. "After a year or so", Sue told 5live, "they are going to ask you to prove how much work you have done. And if they decide that all the hours you are working are not in reasonable expectation of payment, all the working tax credit you've been paid from the beginning will be seen as an over payment". This would mean that the tax credit would have to be repaid in full.

Sue says that Citizens Advice now sees many people who have found themselves thousands of pounds in debt, because their business has failed and they are forced to pay back the working tax credit.

Kirsty McHugh, CEO of the Employment Related Services Authority, the body that represents the companies who deliver the Work Programme, expressed surprise when faced with the evidence 5 live Investigates had uncovered.

"The providers of the work programme only get paid if one of the job seekers gets into work and stays there for six months", she told 5 live. "So there's no point in giving advice to somebody who is not interested in self-employment, because they're obviously not going to make a go of it as a business, and therefore they are not going to be up and running for six months - and the work programme isn't going to get paid. The incentives are not in the system for job advisors to push people in a way they don't want to go."

On the programme, McHugh did not directly address the lower three month bonus that can be received for getting someone on ESA into employment.

Private companies charged with delivering the Work Programme, a £5bn scheme aimed at helping long term unemployed people back in to a job, have been under scrutiny in recent days.

Last Monday's Panorama explored why out of 68 thousand people on Employment Support Allowance, only one thousand have been found a job lasting longer than three months via the Work Programme. This is despite the fact that work providers get more money for helping harder to place clients, most of whom are ESA claimants.

The anonymous disabled job seeker 5 live spoke to, seems keen to work. Ending the interview on a tearful note, she said: "I know I'll need a bit of support and I'll need an employer that would be considerate towards me, but all I'm looking for is for somebody to give me an opportunity."

Speaking on Sunday, shadow employment minister Stephen Timms MP urged the Department for Work and Pensions to review 5 live Investigates' evidence and "close what seems like a very, very serious loophole."

UnemploymentUK: Inspiring selfmarketinggisajob

UnemploymentUK: Inspiring selfmarketinggisajob: This article was truly inspiring use of social media which one would expect with the advertised qualifications. Interestingly he took his ... we look at self marketing in the U.K to find a job .success stories

UnemploymentUK: Inspiring selfmarketinggisajob

UnemploymentUK: Inspiring selfmarketinggisajob: This article was truly inspiring use of social media which one would expect with the advertised qualifications. Interestingly he took his ... we look at self marketing in the U.K to find a job .success stories

UnemploymentUK: coping with the gap

UnemploymentUK: coping with the gap: Economics and its affects Okehampton in Devon's been hit hard by a series of job losses, with many recently redundant workers no...We look at all aspects of unemployment in the U.K including videos

coping with the gap

Economics and its affects

Okehampton in Devon's been hit hard by a series of job losses, with many recently redundant workers not having been paid or yet received any unemployment benefit. Some say they're unable to even afford food.

How do you cope when you're caught in the gap between losing your job and the wheels of benefits bureaucracy grinding into action?

Recession 'boosts self-employment'

The number of self-employed people in the UK has increased by nearly 10% since the start of the economic crisis, a report has found.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 367,000 more people were self-employed in 2012 compared with 2008 when the crisis began.

Over the same time period, the number employed by others fell, the data shows.

Self-employed people were also found to work longer hours than employees.

The most common self-employed occupations are taxi drivers, farmers and construction workers.

Union representatives said the figures suggested the UK labour market was "far weaker" than thought.

"The recent rise in job levels is being driven by self-employed, part-time and temporary jobs, rather than the full-time, permanent work that many people want and need," said Frances O'Grady, secretary general of the TUC.

"There may be perfectly good reasons for being self-employed, but it would be naive to think that all these workers are really budding entrepreneurs."

Self-employment represents 14% of the 29.4 million in employment in the UK.

Over 50's lead the way

Newsnight looked at the subject of self employment

igures from the Office of National Statistics have confirmed that more people are self employed today than at any time since the start of the recession.

The number of workers who are self-employed in their main job rose 367,000 between 2008, the start of the economic downturn, and 2012.

The most popular occupations for self-employment are taxi or cab drivers (166,000), 'other construction trades' jobs (161,000), carpenters and joiners (140,000) and farmers (123,000). They're also more likely to be male and older - averaging at 47 years old, compared to 40 for employees.

Some 58% of self-employed people used their home for work purposes to some extent, either working there (15%), using it as a base (38%) or working on the same grounds or building as their home (5%).

The biggest increase has come since 2011 - of the 367,000 increase in self-employment, 60% moved into self employment between 2011 and 2012. By contrast, the number of employees, which fell 434,000 between 2008 and 2012, dropped mainly at the beginning of the period, with a drop of 600,000 between 2008 and 2009, and a partial recovery since 2010.

The rise in self employed people occurred across the UK, with the exception of Northern Ireland, which saw a decrease. The ONS's report also shows self-employed people work longer hours than regular employees – on average 38 hours a week compared with 36 for employees.

Most self employed people live in London (18%), followed by the south west (16%), while the lowest proportion was in the north east (11%), followed by Scotland and Yorkshire and the Humber (both 12%).

A full run down of the statistics can be seen in the video above and the infographic below

ONS figures

Jobcentre adspolish

In my mind there is a lot to be concerned that gov.uk web site can manage to promote a vacancy in Polish without providing U.K Job seekers the option to translate into English.

Surely in this day and age the translation option is there. Other gov.uk translation services are provided using the Big one. Therefore DWP  s hould provide this service to U.K English readers

A vacancy for a labourer advertised on a Government website left a young jobseeker confused - because it was written entirely in Polish.

The advert, looking for a workman to take on a job at London's Docklands with rock bottom pay in return, had been posted on the Jobcentre Plus website.

But the Department for Work and Pensions, which operates the site, has taken the advert down after it confirmed that all posts must be in English. 

The advert is likely to be in breach of the Equality Act 2010 because it excludes non-Polish speaking applicants and could be considered potential indirect discrimination.

Advert: This post looking for a labourer on the Jobcentre Plus website has been taken down because it was written almost entirely in Polish

Against the rules: The Department for Work and Pensions which runs the Jobcentre Plus site said today that all adverts must be posted in English

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? THE JOB VACANCY TRANSLATED 

Labourer - Temporary work in construction with the agency Jark. 

Need a solid and reliable employee who is very knowledgeable in construction. 

Ability to sign a contract for the right person. Working on roofs scraping and demolition of buildings.

Job is located close to public transport. Needed: - Construction Skills Certificate Scheme card, protective boots and yellow vest.

Two references with phone number - ID card / passport or birth certificate, driver's license or a bill for electricity, National Insurance number. 

We work with many partners in the industry, every day we get a lot of new orders. 

Please contact the agency for Jark (Apply online only) or email.

If you do not talk in Polish, please send an email, do not call. 

Apply online at http://www.housebuildingjobvacancies.co.uk/j/jcp/3-127300534/job.html Hours:

It also broke the Department of Work and Pensions' terms and conditions to upload a job vacancy onto its site.

A 64-year-old woman from Dagenham, Essex, said that her grandson had stumbled across the advert while searching for work.

The grandmother, who did not wish to be named, said: 'My grandson was on my computer and saw there was a labourer job going, but he didn't have a clue what it said because it was in Polish.

'A job like that should be open to everyone not just those who can speak Polish.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274393/Stunned-jobseeker-finds-vacancy-workman-advertised-entirely-POLISH.html#ixzz2K9IuIrNa
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Inspiring selfmarketinggisajob

This article was truly inspiring use of social media which one would expect with the advertised qualifications. This Job Seeker GOT A JOB Interestingly he took his inspiration from another Job seekers

With social media becoming a more important aspect of getting your message across to the wider world there is a clear options. Note TWITTER AND YOUTUBE ARE FREE
So for those of you that are keen on looking for work you have some possibilities you could use to put your best food forward

my story

Each persons story is different but can help to give you inspiration. there are varieties. I found the work and so i  sure will you. If you need help ask

DWP and select committees

There is an argument that recent select committees and over sight committees provide very clear statements of the current situation regarding all benefits and contract. In most cases the evidence is damning
I question why this evidence cannot be more effectively used by claiments within the appeals process or in the legal processes.
This would possibly lead to reviews that would make improvements to a system.
I have spend some time taking the key points out of these committee meetings . Think about the implications
If Practitioners are damning and statements indicate the issues then there are grounds for the use of the statements

Providers expose the challenges of the Work Programme

Assessment is critical to obtaining results. A 4 mins assessment is not sufficient time to put information together.
Time set aside for advisers at DWP i clearly not enough and reduces the effectiveness.
The handover time is a challenge. co-ordinations is seen as a weakness.
Loan parents safeguards are seen as critical. Their well being.
Job centre plus are not well briefed on homelessness. This can mean communication failures. lost letters and sanction issues.
The committee's highlight that the infrastructure set up for programmes have weaknesses.
Clarity at DWP is clearly needed. Staff need to be fully briefed so claiments know the options and can make informed decisions.
One Provider states they are less than keen to promote. If the Providers are concerned about the promotion of the Work Programme. They are asked as to what changes need to be made. The referals are not occcuring with sufficient information. Esa claiments are worth more than the jsa as the Esa claiments require more support
Self employed people can get their leaflets produced under Work Programme.
Large numbers of in appropriate referalls Work Capability assessments need to be looked at.
Sanctions are seen as not positive. If the assessment is wrong and the questions are not asked the Sanctions are then a barrier.

A Template Letter to send to your MP or Lord about Welfare Card

A Template Letter to send to your MP or Lord about Welfare Card

ADDRESS

ADDRESS1

ADDRESS2

COUNTY

POSTCODE

EMAIL:

DATE

Dear Enter MP/Peers name here

I am writing to ask you to vote against the Introduction of Welfare Cards for those on Welfare in UK. While this is illegal at present (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217101/Iain-Duncan-Smith-No-booze-smart-cards-benefit-claimants-spend-handouts-drugs-alcohol.html), I hope you will be as horrified as claimants are to see the Private Members Bill tabled By MP Alec Shelbrooke.

The arguments for this bill are discriminatory, and will only induce further stigmatisation of claimants leading to a failure to the ‘right to live’ (Article 8 & Article 14 HRA) as others in the UK currently enjoy who are employed. It also will lead to further rises in Crime particularly Hate Crime towards those on benefits.

While the government could argue it is the exception of ‘the economic welfare of the country’ this scheme would cost the taxpayer huge amounts of taxpayers’ money to implement and is NOT value for money. Many claimants who have paid into the welfare state over their years of work life who have found themselves out of work or sick and disabled is social engineering, forcing them to buy goods from government sanctioned suppliers when in many cases goods can be bought cheaper elsewhere. Just for the record flat screen TV’s are the only kind of TV we can buy since analogue ones were deemed bad for environment, and under the forced Digital Switchover many were given Sky boxes or  BT Vision, Virgin at a small discount of the original cost of a TV Package, so this is another untruth being bandied about by media and government ministers alike.

This will prevent claimants from ie; enjoying a family meal, buying birthday cards & presents, having a social life like meeting a friend for coffee or going to the pub for an odd drink with friends, buying petrol to get to see friends/ family members not living locally and medical appointments at hospitals and access to public transport.

This is a National disgrace and outrage that the state should dictate a person’s life for some, while majority UK enjoy all the freedoms afforded to them given the UK does not have the social issues many other countries face.

I feel the introduction of this will reflect badly around the world that the UK which prides itself on fairness and justice, to oppress it citizens like this based on a false ideology of ‘Scroungers & Skivers’.

I hope you will vote against this bill to stop anymore hardship falling on those who have the misfortune to be unable to work or find employment, and god forbid you fall into a position in life where you are in a claimants shoes.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/centrelink-begin-welfare-ban-on-booze-tobacco/story-e6freuy9-1226415044967

http://australia.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/Australian-Welfare-Payments-go-Plastic-1265.php

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/human-rights/human-rights/the-human-rights-act/what-the-rights-mean/article-14-no-discrimination.php

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/human-rights/human-rights/the-human-rights-act/what-the-rights-mean/article-8-right-to-a-private-and-family-life.php

Yours Faithfully