This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/oct/22/benefit-sanction-warning-period-to-be-trialled

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Benefit sanction warning period to be trialled Iain Duncan Smith to trial benefit sanction warning
(35 minutes later)
An early warning system for benefit claimants facing the risk of sanctions is to be trialled in response to claims that an excessively punitive and bureaucratic system is unjustifiably driving innocent claimants deeper into poverty. An early warning system for benefit claimants facing sanctions is to be trialled in response to claims that an excessively punitive and bureaucratic system is driving some claimants deeper into poverty.
The work and pensionssecretary, Iain Duncan Smith, announced claimants subjected to sanctions would from now on initially be given a “yellow card” or warning when the sanction – a benefit deduction – was triggered. But he said he will only trial the system, starting next year, a relatively small commitment. The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has announced that claimants will be given a “yellow card” 14 days before their benefits are reduced. The warning allows them time to give a good reason for failing to meet commitments they make in return for getting benefits. Under current rules, sanctions are applied immediately.
Under current rules, such a sanction would be applied immediately, but in future a claimant will be given a 14-day warning to give good reason for their failure to meet the commitments they make in return for benefit. Duncan Smith said the new approach would be introduced on a trial basis. Duncan Smith said the approach would be introduced on a trial basis, a relatively small commitment, next year.
“During this time, claimants will have another opportunity to provide further evidence to explain their non-compliance,” he said in a letter to the work and pensions select committee.“During this time, claimants will have another opportunity to provide further evidence to explain their non-compliance,” he said in a letter to the work and pensions select committee.
“We will then review this information before deciding whether a sanction remains appropriate. We expect that this will strike the right balance between enforcing the claimant commitment and fairness.”“We will then review this information before deciding whether a sanction remains appropriate. We expect that this will strike the right balance between enforcing the claimant commitment and fairness.”
The reform comes after years of criticism and mounting evidence that claimants are winning appeals against DWP decision makers so making the system more cumbersome and expensive. The move comes after years of criticism and mounting evidence that claimants are winning appeals against DWP decision-makers, making the system more cumbersome and expensive.
In 2014 the DWP released figures which showed that 58% of people seeking to overturn sanctions were successful – up from 20% before 2010. In 2014, the DWP released figures showing that 58% of people seeking to overturn sanctions were successful – up from 20% before 2010.
The work and pensions committee in March called for an independent inquiry into the way the sanctions operated, for the second time in a year, and Duncan Smith’s response on Thursday comes in a formal response to a select committee report rushed out before the General Election in May . In March, the work and pensions committee called for an independent inquiry into how the sanctions operated, the second in a year, and Duncan Smith’s announcement on Thursday is a formal response to a select committee report rushed out before the general election in May. The report said the sanctions regime appeared to be “purely punitive”.
The MPs’ report warned that the sanctions regime appeared to be “purely punitive”. In a written statement to parliament, the DWP has also announced changes to the way jobseeker’s allowance sanction notifications are sent out and an extension of “at risk” groups to cover homeless people and those with mental health conditions. People in these groups have greater access to hardship payments and will be able to appeal a decision more quickly.
In a written statement to parliament the DWP has also announced changes to the way Jobseeker’s Allowance sanction notifications were sent out and an extension of “at risk” groups to cover people with mental health conditions and those who are homeless. People in these groups have greater access to hardship payments, and will be able to make an appeal to a decision maker more quickly. Explaining the proposed early warning system, the DWP said: “At present people are notified of a sanction and it is imposed immediately afterwards. In some cases, claimants go on to challenge the decision and the sanction may be overturned. We will trial arrangements whereby claimants are given a warning of our intention to sanction and a 14-day period to provide evidence of good reason before the decision to sanction is made.”
Explaining the proposed early warning system, the DWP said: “At present people are notified of a sanction and it is imposed immediately afterwards. In some cases, claimants go on to challenge the decision and the sanction may be overturned. We will trial arrangements whereby claimants are given a warning of our intention to sanction and a 14-day period to provide evidence of good reason before the decision to sanction is made. During this time, claimants will have another opportunity to provide further evidence to explain their non-compliance. We will then review this information before deciding whether a sanction remains appropriate. We expect that this will strike the right balance between enforcing the claimant commitment and fairness.” Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of the Employment Related Services Association, said: “We welcome the recognition by the secretary of state that the sanctions system is in need of reform, but are concerned that the changes today don’t go far enough. For some jobseekers, receiving a sanction can act as a ‘wake-up’ call. However, for the majority, the sanction system is more likely to hinder the journey to employment. Jobseekers move into work quickest when they feel positive about work and thus sanctions should only be used as a last resort.”
Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of the Employment Related Services Association, said: “We welcome the recognition by the secretary ofstate that the sanctions system is in need of reform, but are concerned that the changes today don’t go far enough. For some jobseekers, receiving a sanction can act as a ‘wake up’ call. However, for the majority, the sanction system is more likely to hinder the journey to employment. Jobseekers move into work quickest when they feel positive about work and thus sanctions should only be used as a last resort.”