Select committee DWP recommendations

 Benefit sanctions policy beyond the Oakley Review

Sanctions

The two specific areas that Sanctions normally relate to are JSA  ( Job Seekers Allowance ) and ESA (Employment Support Allowance) Though Universal Credit may also feature as time evolves

Lower Level Sanctions

Higher Level Sanctions
     

Categories of JSA “sanction”
The Select Committee". We recommend that DWP make a clear distinction—in its processes, its communications with claimants, and in the official data—between claimants who are not meeting the underlying conditions of entitlement, in particular those who are genuinely “not actively seeking employment” and may therefore be abusing the system, and those who have not fully complied with the precise terms of a Claimant Commitment. At the moment, both receive the same penalty.  We recommend that the Government confirm the steps it has taken to ensure that suspensions of JSA payments where the JCP Work Coach believes that the claimant has not been “actively seeking employment” do not occur before good reason can be considered, and a decision made, by a Decision Maker detached from the employment support process. DWP should set out the steps it has taken to address this issue, to provide assurance that the newly instituted procedure of making decisions in these circumstances within two days of referral is sufficiently robust to ensure that the decision has in fact been made, and the claimant notified, before the JSA payment is suspended. We also believe that notification should be by either written or telephone communication, depending on the claimant’s preferences as previously expressed to JCP staff when signing the Claimant Commitment, or subsequent to this. Review of the legislative framework for sanctioning Given the complexity of the existing legislation, there is a strong case for a review of the underpinning legislative framework for conditionality and sanctions, to ensure that the basis for sanctioning is clearly defined, and safeguards to protect vulnerable groups clearly set out. We recommend that the clarity and coherence of the legislative framework for benefit sanctions policy be included in the terms of reference of the full independent review which we have recommended.
Use of Jobseeker Directions
We note the concern expressed by some witnesses that use of Jobseeker Directions has increased in some JCP offices in recent years. While we appreciate that there may be circumstances in which it might be appropriate for JCP staff to mandate a JSA claimant to undertake a very specific type of work-related activity, such as particular skills training, it is not immediately clear why such activities could not invariably be included in Claimant commitments. Intuitively we would expect there to be minimal, if any, use made of Jobseeker Directions, as the Claimant  Commitment becomes more firmly established. We recommend that DWP’s evaluation of the Claimant Commitment include an assessment of the appropriate use of Jobseeker Directions and their interaction with the Claimant Commitment process.
  ESA sanctioning
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a relatively new benefit; it was introduced in 2008 as a replacement for incapacity benefits (IB), for unemployed people with long-term health conditions and disabilities. ESA claimants considered to have “limited capability for work”, but with the capability to undertake “work-related activity” and considered to have a reasonable prospect of being able to work in the future, can be placed in the ESA Work-related Activity Group (ESA WRAG). These claimants are subject to a more limited range of conditionality than JSA claimants—attendance at mandatory  work-focused interviews at JCP and/or mandatory participation in the Work Programme

Unemployment Kensington North South divide

U.K diversity- 2 Kensington's

The Guardian has recorded this rather interesting study of 2 kensington's

Yes there is more than 1 Kensington. Most of us are aware of the traditional Kensington in London. Yet as you look at the frame you see in the picture here you cannot picture where this could be in Kensington, London

Kensington Liverpool is the complete opposite of the U.K spectrum in terms of Income and wealth.
The Students rooms from £60 we see advertised in the Liverpool Kensington are unlikely to be visible in London.
The observation that Liverpool's local Jobcentre looked like a prison with it's barbed wire made me reflect on the view that many job seekers have. The Jobcentre isn't where people look for support but more as a test of endurance.With an average 30% of the Liverpool's area of Kensington being on out of work benefits The fact that there wasn't a Job centre anywhere the London Kensington spoke volumes. The unemployment rate in London's Kensington was 2.9%

There is a difference of £44.000 in the average salary between the two areas.
Child poverty rates stand out even more with the number of children in poverty in London being less than 5% and yet the Northern % is 45.8%

The ownership of the London Kensington is changing though as the Property ownership of the capital continues to change.

The community spirit  appears to be strong within Liverpool. Community resources and need become a key feature. Liverpool and it's weaker economy become clearer with it's expectancy from the politicians. Can they save the community resource of Sure Start?

Both areas do have a common theme. Multi -culturalism is a common theme indicated by the film.
This is a common aspect of Britain today.

As the presenter says Austerity and equality become a cliche. Austerity has become an issue for those on the lowest incomes. The lack of opportunity and funding is relevant to the North.

The Southern issue could be the Mansion Tax concept with people considering moving out of their properties to avoid larger bills. The rise in property values is a concern to those that have lived in the area for a lengthy time.
As we approach the Election what changes will occur in Kensington

More people need to get better paid Jobs

Following the arrival of the Labour Parties material arriving on my doorstep I heard- More people need to get better paid Jobs.

This has led me to reflect on the video and the Unemployment stats this month.

yes there is a need but the training provided for the future also needs to meet the skill gaps.

so that more people find the better paid Jobs

More People need to get better paid jobs

A statement made at the end of this video highlights a key issue within the U.K .
The reality is that the Full time employment is the key. Work that is skilled rather than Unemployment, Zero hour or part time work.

There is however some encouraging signs in the Graph presented here by the FT
The All remains red
If you look at self employment the strength in growth has been since 2013.
The Full time growth however stands out most since Nov 2013. Self Employment from the Graph however has been the greatest growth area



Reality wise is that there needs to be a feel good factor in the economy from the Conservative party from the perspective of the General Election.

Positive Encouraging Economy 

Kings lyne is an area that has good news however the lower skilled work . The skilled employees are seeing the rises where as the lower skilled employees are continuing with their struggle.
The political reality is that the lower skilled electorate will require persuading where as the higher skilled employees may appreciate the changes that have occured in recent times.
Labour Party
Labour is making promises that by 2020 they wish to see the minimum wage at £8.
Reality is that by 2020 it will need to be higher than that to meet bills that will be coming at that stage
Many will feel that is to long. The Conservatives will also have to look at this issue.