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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Force claimants to work for benefits, government urged | Force claimants to work for benefits, government urged |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US-style "work for the dole" scheme could save £3.5bn a year in welfare costs, a campaign group has said. | A US-style "work for the dole" scheme could save £3.5bn a year in welfare costs, a campaign group has said. |
| The Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) said only the "extreme sanction" of stopping claimants who refused to do 30 hours' activity a week from receiving benefits would force them to find work. | The Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) said only the "extreme sanction" of stopping claimants who refused to do 30 hours' activity a week from receiving benefits would force them to find work. |
| In the absence of such a reform, the government's flagship universal credit would have "limited effect", it added. | In the absence of such a reform, the government's flagship universal credit would have "limited effect", it added. |
| But opponents of the idea have labelled it "unrealistic" and "demeaning". | But opponents of the idea have labelled it "unrealistic" and "demeaning". |
| The TPA, which campaigns for lower taxes, said individuals claiming the new universal credit should have their payments automatically suspended if they declined to take part in prescribed activities. | The TPA, which campaigns for lower taxes, said individuals claiming the new universal credit should have their payments automatically suspended if they declined to take part in prescribed activities. |
| Already a failure | Already a failure |
| For most claimants, that would mean 30 hours a week of community service, charity work, approved training, work experience or "meaningful" job hunting with officials. | For most claimants, that would mean 30 hours a week of community service, charity work, approved training, work experience or "meaningful" job hunting with officials. |
| Parents of those under four-year-olds, those caring for someone with a severe disability, and pensioners would be exempt. | Parents of those under four-year-olds, those caring for someone with a severe disability, and pensioners would be exempt. |
| Those claiming incapacity benefit or employment support allowance would be expected to take part in "activity that they are physically able to do". | Those claiming incapacity benefit or employment support allowance would be expected to take part in "activity that they are physically able to do". |
| TPA chief executive Matthew Sinclair said: "The government is improving the incentive to work, but they need to go further and remove the option of sitting at home and claiming benefits entirely. | TPA chief executive Matthew Sinclair said: "The government is improving the incentive to work, but they need to go further and remove the option of sitting at home and claiming benefits entirely. |
| "Taxpayers rightly expect something back for the enormous amount they pay for out-of-work benefits, at the very least a real commitment to find a job as soon as possible." | "Taxpayers rightly expect something back for the enormous amount they pay for out-of-work benefits, at the very least a real commitment to find a job as soon as possible." |
| Former Labour welfare minister Frank Field - who proposed a similar idea in 2009 - urged his party to "seriously look again" at the idea. | |
| "The next Labour government must ensure that claimants are not simply left drawing benefit rather than having an offer of work," he said. | "The next Labour government must ensure that claimants are not simply left drawing benefit rather than having an offer of work," he said. |
| But one group which campaigns against forcing those looking for a job to work for free said the idea had been tried and had not worked. | But one group which campaigns against forcing those looking for a job to work for free said the idea had been tried and had not worked. |
| "These schemes are already in place and that's why we can say they're already a failure," Joanna Long from Boycott Workfare told BBC Radio 5 Live. | "These schemes are already in place and that's why we can say they're already a failure," Joanna Long from Boycott Workfare told BBC Radio 5 Live. |
| "Study after study comes out from the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) showing that these schemes have zero effect on helping people find work." | "Study after study comes out from the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) showing that these schemes have zero effect on helping people find work." |