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David Cameron: Unemployed young 'should do community work' | David Cameron: Unemployed young 'should do community work' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits if the Tories win the election. | Young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits if the Tories win the election. |
David Cameron said about 50,000 18-21-year-olds would be required to do daily work experience from day one of their claim, alongside job searching. | |
The welfare shake up would make sure young people "don't get sucked into a life on welfare", he said in a speech. | |
Labour has promised a jobs guarantee for the young unemployed. | |
The Conservatives are focusing on welfare reforms this week as they draw up battle lines ahead of May's general election. | |
Their proposed Community Work Programme will cost about £20m to deliver, paid for by "initial savings" from the delivery of Universal Credit. | |
'Order and discipline' | 'Order and discipline' |
Those aged between 18 and 21 who have not been in employment, education or training, known as "Neets", for six months would no longer receive Job Seekers' Allowance (JSA). | |
Instead, they would be paid the Youth Allowance, paid at the same rate as JSA - £57.35 a week. | Instead, they would be paid the Youth Allowance, paid at the same rate as JSA - £57.35 a week. |
However, in order to receive it they would be required to carry out 30 hours a week of mandatory community work from the first day of claiming benefits. | |
This could involve making meals for older people or working for local charities, alongside 10 hours of job hunting. | |
Analysis, by Political Correspondent Ross Hawkins | Analysis, by Political Correspondent Ross Hawkins |
Conservatives insist unemployed young people must work for their benefits. | Conservatives insist unemployed young people must work for their benefits. |
Labour has promised the same people a guaranteed job. | Labour has promised the same people a guaranteed job. |
The tone is very different. | The tone is very different. |
But refuse to work under either party - whether it's the Tories' community programme or Labour's jobs guarantee - and you will lose money. | But refuse to work under either party - whether it's the Tories' community programme or Labour's jobs guarantee - and you will lose money. |
Conservatives would make more cuts: lowering the benefit cap, stopping many 18-21 year olds claiming housing benefit and even considering docking money from obese or addicted claimants who refuse treatment. | Conservatives would make more cuts: lowering the benefit cap, stopping many 18-21 year olds claiming housing benefit and even considering docking money from obese or addicted claimants who refuse treatment. |
Labour point out their policy provides paid employment, not an obligation to community work. | Labour point out their policy provides paid employment, not an obligation to community work. |
But both parties would you to hear them caring deeply about the fate of young unemployed people, while making sure no one gets something for nothing. | But both parties would you to hear them caring deeply about the fate of young unemployed people, while making sure no one gets something for nothing. |
The policy, announced by Mr Cameron during a speech in Hove, east Sussex, forms part of the Conservatives' plans to eradicate long-term youth unemployment. | |
"That well-worn path - from the school gate, down to the Job Centre, and onto a life on benefits - has got to be rubbed away," the prime minister said. | |
He added: "What these young people need is work experience and the order and discipline of turning up for work each day. | |
"From day one - they must play their part and make an effort. That could mean making meals for older people, cleaning up litter and graffiti, or working for local charities. | |
"Your first experience of the benefits system should be that yes, you can get help - but it isn't something for nothing, and you need to put something back into your community too." | |
The party have also pledged to cap benefits further - at £23,000 - to fund three million apprenticeships if they win the general election in May. | The party have also pledged to cap benefits further - at £23,000 - to fund three million apprenticeships if they win the general election in May. |
People who cannot work because they are obese or have alcohol or drug problems could have their sickness benefits cut if they refuse treatment, also under Tory plans. | |
'All stick, no carrot' | 'All stick, no carrot' |
Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said the Conservatives had "abandoned thousands of young people". | Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said the Conservatives had "abandoned thousands of young people". |
She said the party should adopt Labour's plan to guarantee young people who have been unemployed for a year a six month job, paid for by a bankers' bonus tax. | She said the party should adopt Labour's plan to guarantee young people who have been unemployed for a year a six month job, paid for by a bankers' bonus tax. |
Ed Miliband has also pledged that young unemployed people who refuse to take training courses to gain key skills could lose benefits under a Labour government. | Ed Miliband has also pledged that young unemployed people who refuse to take training courses to gain key skills could lose benefits under a Labour government. |
His party would also guarantee apprenticeships for every school leaver in England who "gets the grades" by 2020. | His party would also guarantee apprenticeships for every school leaver in England who "gets the grades" by 2020. |
A Liberal Democrat spokesman criticised the Conservatives proposals as "all stick, no carrot", saying they were designed to "punish" rather than to help people into work. | A Liberal Democrat spokesman criticised the Conservatives proposals as "all stick, no carrot", saying they were designed to "punish" rather than to help people into work. |