Parents better off on dole

The Gurdian reports today that whilst Working tax credit is a payment for people in employment earning less than £12,900 per year or a couple earning less than £17,700 or less a year many parents will be better offon benefits

Government figures show that around 200,000 couples who work part time while bringing up children are set to lose their entitlement of almost £4,000 per year from April, unless they increase their working hours.

These families will be pushed back into the benefits system as couples must now work at least 24 hours per week before they are eligible for the credit.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury minister, will claimthat the changes will mean “going out to work makes no sense” for some couples.

Read the Guardian

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David Milliband on Youth Unemployment.. what we really need

Last week David Milliband presented recommendations from his Commission on Youth Unemployment.

The Report

He has welcomed the introduction of job subsidies under the new Youth Contract, which will come in from April, but called for a boost in the number of these that will be made available to employers.

He recommended setting up Youth Employment Zones in hotspots of worklessness around the country.

The report also majored on self-employment. For recovery to be sustainable, new jobs need to be created by start-up businesses. Unemployed graduates in particular should be encouraged to set up their own businesses.

 

See the full report here

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We need a Plan B: Richard Johnson on the Work Programme

We also need a plan B. Anyone not finding a job after two years should attend a further year of assistance on a new “Work Programme plus”. It should be delivered through local specialist organisations, providing intensive support, up to 12 months’ work experience and investment in business start-up and growth.

The contracts for the government’s Work Programme were competed for on price

Contractors should be paid according to outcomes, but with contracts awarded on the basis of quality, not price. Much higher payments would reflect the high levels of need, as well as the much greater savings to the state achieved by helping this group.

And a number of charities may go to the wall, such as Leap – in Harlesden, north London – which provides specialist, intensive, local support that has rescued thousands of young people from the streets in the last decade.

Read more in last weeks Guardian

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