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| Welfare plan 'may cause poverty' | Welfare plan 'may cause poverty' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ministers should rethink or delay plans to force lone parents, disabled people and the long-term jobless to seek work, a senior government adviser has said. | Ministers should rethink or delay plans to force lone parents, disabled people and the long-term jobless to seek work, a senior government adviser has said. |
| Sir Richard Tilt said reforms in Wales, England and Scotland could "push people into poverty" as unemployment rises. | Sir Richard Tilt said reforms in Wales, England and Scotland could "push people into poverty" as unemployment rises. |
| Under the plans lone parents will have to look for work once their youngest child is 12 or face losing benefits. | |
| Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said plans would offer support to the jobless, not penalise them. | Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said plans would offer support to the jobless, not penalise them. |
| 'Harmful' | 'Harmful' |
| Sir Richard, who is head of the social security advisory committee, said the so-called "welfare to work" reforms risked "falling into disrepute". | Sir Richard, who is head of the social security advisory committee, said the so-called "welfare to work" reforms risked "falling into disrepute". |
| He called for the changes to be delayed by one or two years. | He called for the changes to be delayed by one or two years. |
| Currently, single parents can claim income support solely on the basis of being a lone parent until their youngest child is 16. | Currently, single parents can claim income support solely on the basis of being a lone parent until their youngest child is 16. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But from Monday, those with children aged 12 and over will no longer be able to make a new claim for income support. | But from Monday, those with children aged 12 and over will no longer be able to make a new claim for income support. |
| Instead, they will be able to claim Jobseekers Allowance if they are actively looking for work. | Instead, they will be able to claim Jobseekers Allowance if they are actively looking for work. |
| The total amount they can receive will be almost exactly the same, but anyone not complying with the new rules could face sanctions, including having their benefits cut by up to 40%. | The total amount they can receive will be almost exactly the same, but anyone not complying with the new rules could face sanctions, including having their benefits cut by up to 40%. |
| Sir Richard said: "Benefit rates are relatively low and if you are going to reduce someone's benefit for a few weeks by 40% you are pushing people much closer to poverty. | Sir Richard said: "Benefit rates are relatively low and if you are going to reduce someone's benefit for a few weeks by 40% you are pushing people much closer to poverty. |
| "Of course, the child will suffer, but it's not the child that has fallen foul of the system." | "Of course, the child will suffer, but it's not the child that has fallen foul of the system." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThese plans deliberately target the vulnerable, as they have no power and no real voiceIFP, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThese plans deliberately target the vulnerable, as they have no power and no real voiceIFP, UKSend us your comments |
| Sir Richard said he was concerned about the availability of suitable, affordable childcare for lone parents affected by the changes. | Sir Richard said he was concerned about the availability of suitable, affordable childcare for lone parents affected by the changes. |
| And he said there was often a particular reason that the lone parent was staying at home. | And he said there was often a particular reason that the lone parent was staying at home. |
| "It may be to do with disability or chronic illness, or in some cases it may be to do with behavioural problems," he said. "So pushing the lone [parent] in those circumstances into work may actually not be in everybody's interest. | "It may be to do with disability or chronic illness, or in some cases it may be to do with behavioural problems," he said. "So pushing the lone [parent] in those circumstances into work may actually not be in everybody's interest. |
| "In many cases it will be harmful and lead to further behavioural problems." | "In many cases it will be harmful and lead to further behavioural problems." |
| But Mr Purnell said it was more vital than ever to help the jobless seek employment. | But Mr Purnell said it was more vital than ever to help the jobless seek employment. |
| Single parent Dawn Harrison: 'My kids do not deserve to be latchkey kids' | Single parent Dawn Harrison: 'My kids do not deserve to be latchkey kids' |
| "We are not forcing people to work and leave benefits," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We are not forcing people to work and leave benefits," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "What we are saying is people should take up the support which we know works. | "What we are saying is people should take up the support which we know works. |
| "I think it would be wrong at a time when it may be harder for people to find work to provide them with less help." | "I think it would be wrong at a time when it may be harder for people to find work to provide them with less help." |
| Conservative spokesman Chris Grayling said the changes were badly needed. | Conservative spokesman Chris Grayling said the changes were badly needed. |
| "It would be disastrous for Britain to do a U-turn on welfare reform," he said. | "It would be disastrous for Britain to do a U-turn on welfare reform," he said. |
| 'Set example' | 'Set example' |
| Kim Sparrow, from the Single Mothers Self Defence Network, told BBC Five Live that just because her children were now teenagers, it was not the case that she had the time to get a job. | Kim Sparrow, from the Single Mothers Self Defence Network, told BBC Five Live that just because her children were now teenagers, it was not the case that she had the time to get a job. |
| "If I was to get a job now, I would not be there for them in the ways that I would want to be," she said. | "If I was to get a job now, I would not be there for them in the ways that I would want to be," she said. |
| However, Stephen Grimsey, who has a three-year-old daughter and has been working part-time in a pub since February, said having a job had made a big difference to his life. | However, Stephen Grimsey, who has a three-year-old daughter and has been working part-time in a pub since February, said having a job had made a big difference to his life. |
| "I have my pride back, my self esteem and I'm able to do more with my daughter and set her a good example - show her that if you want something you go out and you earn it," he added. | "I have my pride back, my self esteem and I'm able to do more with my daughter and set her a good example - show her that if you want something you go out and you earn it," he added. |
| For lone parents already claiming income support, the changes will be phased in depending on the age of the youngest child. | For lone parents already claiming income support, the changes will be phased in depending on the age of the youngest child. |
| From March 2009, parents of 14 and 15-year-olds will no longer be able to claim income support and from July 2009, the change will extend to parents of 12 and 13-year-olds. | From March 2009, parents of 14 and 15-year-olds will no longer be able to claim income support and from July 2009, the change will extend to parents of 12 and 13-year-olds. |
| By October 2010, lone parents with children aged seven and over will be required to look for work in order to get benefits. | By October 2010, lone parents with children aged seven and over will be required to look for work in order to get benefits. |
| According to the government, there are 1.8m lone parents in the UK, 56.3% of whom are in work. | According to the government, there are 1.8m lone parents in the UK, 56.3% of whom are in work. |
| There are 738,600 lone parents on income support, and of those, just over 100,000 have children aged 12 and above. | There are 738,600 lone parents on income support, and of those, just over 100,000 have children aged 12 and above. |