Benefits System overhaul

[Oneeyedvic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7516551 .stm

Benefit claimants could be forced to pick up litter and erase graffiti under plans to be unveiled by ministers.

The Welfare Green Paper is set to include proposals to force those unemployed for more than two years to work full-time in the community.

Incapacity benefit will be scrapped as part of a scheme to get more people claiming the benefit back to work.

Minister James Purnell says the plans are "revolutionary". The Tories say they had many of the ideas first.

This shake-up will apply to all 4.5 million people on out-of-work benefits, but is expected to impact most on those on Jobseekers Allowance.

Conservative support

Under plans laid out in the Green Paper, claimants will have to carry out four weeks' community work once they have been unemployed for more than a year.

After two years, they will be ordered to work full-time in the community.

Incapacity Benefit claimants will all move to the new Employment Support Allowance by 2013, which ministers hope will be regarded, for all but the most disabled people, as a temporary benefit

About time?

Is this far enough?

[shaneystar2]

I can't really be bothered to argue with you any more New Judge ,but as I have said before if the government want to get people back into work then the jobs must be there for them to do and not just menial jobs . I notice you haven't made any comment about the way jobs are allowed to be shipped abroad and the downturn in industry which has forced people onto benefits .
All you seem concerned about is that some people are getting something for nothing . I live in area of high unemployment .A lot of the work that is availiable here is seasonal.During the winter months you are lucky to see half a dozen jobs advertised in the local paper .We are having a new harbour built at the moment .Where were the jobs for the local men when the work started ? There weren't any .Contracted out to big companies who bring in their own work force .
It's all very well for them to make sweeping statements and lump all benefit claiments under the same umbrella when the work is not out there .The way things are going pretty soon everyone will be sweeping the streets and cleaning toilets whilst "I'm alright Jack "works his zillionhours overtime.Hardly a fair division of labour .
Keep cracking the whip :)) Bye .