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Iain Duncan Smith calls for wealthy pensioners to hand back benefits Iain Duncan Smith calls for wealthy pensioners to hand back benefits
(about 1 hour later)
Wealthy pensioners who do not need benefit payments should voluntarily hand back the money to the government, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said. Wealthy pensioners who do not need benefit payments should voluntarily hand back the money to the government, the work and pensions secretary has said.
Iain Duncan Smith encouraged better-off elderly people to pay back taxpayer-funded financial support that they do not need, such as the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes and television licences.Iain Duncan Smith encouraged better-off elderly people to pay back taxpayer-funded financial support that they do not need, such as the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes and television licences.
He urged those who can afford it to pay back the benefit, saying it was an "anomaly" that all pensioners receive universal benefits, no matter how wealthy they are.He urged those who can afford it to pay back the benefit, saying it was an "anomaly" that all pensioners receive universal benefits, no matter how wealthy they are.
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph Duncan Smith said there is "no indication of change" to the current system, despite he and other ministers calling for an amendment to the payment system. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph Duncan Smith said there is "no indication of change" to the current system, despite calls for an amendment to the payment system.
He told the newspaper: "It is up to them if they don't want it to hand it back. I would encourage everybody who reads the Telegraph and doesn't need it to hand it back."He told the newspaper: "It is up to them if they don't want it to hand it back. I would encourage everybody who reads the Telegraph and doesn't need it to hand it back."
Prime Minister David Cameron promised in 2010 to protect universal payment for the whole term of parliament, and has so far resisted calls to change it. The Liberal Democrats have proposed a review of the system, and for them to be taxed. The prime minister, David Cameron, promised in 2010 to protect universal payment for the whole term of parliament, and has so far resisted calls to change it. The Liberal Democrats have proposed a review of the system, and for them to be taxed.
Duncan Smith's appeal to wealthy pensioners comes the day before the beginning of a pilot project for universal credit, a reform of the benefits system that would bring together several different benefits for those of working age into a single payment.Duncan Smith's appeal to wealthy pensioners comes the day before the beginning of a pilot project for universal credit, a reform of the benefits system that would bring together several different benefits for those of working age into a single payment.
The shift is designed to ensure that no one is better off unemployed and on benefits rather than in work.The shift is designed to ensure that no one is better off unemployed and on benefits rather than in work.
The revised benefit would included a commitment from people saying they are available for work, to look for a job and attend interviews, as well as taking the first job available, the Sunday Telegraph said. The revised benefit would include a commitment from people saying they are available for work, to look for a job and attend interviews, as well as taking the first job available, the Sunday Telegraph said.
If they do not do this they can lose their benefits for a certain amount of time.If they do not do this they can lose their benefits for a certain amount of time.
Duncan Smith said: "People will know from day one, for the first time ever, what's expected of them. They'll have a sheet of paper which is their contract … We want to say to people, 'You're claiming unemployment benefit but you're actually in work paid for by the state: you're in work to find work. That's your job from now on: to find work'." Duncan Smith said: "People will know from day one, for the first time ever, what's expected of them. They'll have a sheet of paper which is their contract … We want to say to people, 'You're claiming unemployment benefit but you're actually in work paid for by the state: you're in work to find work. That's your job from now on: to find work.'"
He also hit out at the BBC's coverage of the coalition's welfare reforms, criticising the corporation for referring to what ministers call the "spare room subsidy" by Labour's phrase, the "bedroom tax", and describing changes as "cuts" rather than "savings".He also hit out at the BBC's coverage of the coalition's welfare reforms, criticising the corporation for referring to what ministers call the "spare room subsidy" by Labour's phrase, the "bedroom tax", and describing changes as "cuts" rather than "savings".
"They (the BBC) have always tended to look at the welfare reforms from the jar that is marked - and it's a very Leftist jar - 'less money bad, more money good'. So if you are reducing welfare you must be doing something rather nasty," he told the Sunday Telegraph. "They (the BBC) have always tended to look at the welfare reforms from the jar that is marked - and it's a very leftist jar - 'less money bad, more money good'. So if you are reducing welfare you must be doing something rather nasty," he told the Sunday Telegraph.
But he said this was "more lazy" , rather than "politically motivated" reporting. But he said this was "more lazy" rather than "politically motivated" reporting.