Jenny Jones has obtained figures showing that one third of the people referred to a mandatory workfare scheme London and the Home Counties were hit with benefit sanctions from June 2011-May 2012
News from Jenny Jones AM: One third lost benefits on workfare scheme in London and Home Counties
The regulations underpinning the scheme were found to be unlawful in February 2013, and Government research shows it doesn’t help people find work.
The Mayor of London is funding a similar scheme forcing 6,000 young people to work unpaid for 13 weeks, and taking away their benefits if they fail to take part. The London Assembly passed Jenny’s motion in January calling for the Mayor to drop the sanctions and make the programme voluntary.
Jenny Jones, Assembly Member said:
“These figures show that the Mayor could end up taking away benefits from young people who refuse to waste their time on a workfare scheme that doesn’t work. There are already thousands of Londoners who have had their benefits withheld.
“People need proper work experience, apprenticeships and jobs that they can build a life on, not wasted time in unpaid work.”
Notes;
1. The figures were obtained with Freedom of Information requests. There were 5,830 people referred onto the Mandatory Work Activity scheme in London and the Home Counties from June 2011 – May 2012. Of these, 2,060 were sanctioned, with the main reason given being “failed to attend”. MWA involves four weeks’ unpaid work for companies and charities for up to 30 hours per week, and is similar to the Mayor’s scheme.
2. The Court of Appeal ruled in February 2013 that the regulations used for various workfare schemes including Mandatory Work Activity were unlawful, meaning that the withdrawn benefits should be repaid. The case was brought by Caitlin Reilly, who had been referred onto Mandatory Work Activity. The Government subsequently passed legislation retrospectively changing the law to avoid the repayments.
3. The Mayor has co-funded a further mandatory work experience pilot using £12.3 of European Social Funding. The pilot will require 6,000 people aged 18-24 with little or no work history will be forced to undertake 30 hours of work experience a week for a 13-week period in order to claim their Jobseekers’ Allowance.
4. The Mayor’s answer to Jenny’s request to drop sanctions following the ruling can be found here.
5. The London Assembly’s motion can be found here.
London Gov
News from Jenny Jones AM: One third lost benefits on workfare scheme in London and Home Counties
The regulations underpinning the scheme were found to be unlawful in February 2013, and Government research shows it doesn’t help people find work.
The Mayor of London is funding a similar scheme forcing 6,000 young people to work unpaid for 13 weeks, and taking away their benefits if they fail to take part. The London Assembly passed Jenny’s motion in January calling for the Mayor to drop the sanctions and make the programme voluntary.
Jenny Jones, Assembly Member said:
“These figures show that the Mayor could end up taking away benefits from young people who refuse to waste their time on a workfare scheme that doesn’t work. There are already thousands of Londoners who have had their benefits withheld.
“People need proper work experience, apprenticeships and jobs that they can build a life on, not wasted time in unpaid work.”
Notes;
1. The figures were obtained with Freedom of Information requests. There were 5,830 people referred onto the Mandatory Work Activity scheme in London and the Home Counties from June 2011 – May 2012. Of these, 2,060 were sanctioned, with the main reason given being “failed to attend”. MWA involves four weeks’ unpaid work for companies and charities for up to 30 hours per week, and is similar to the Mayor’s scheme.
2. The Court of Appeal ruled in February 2013 that the regulations used for various workfare schemes including Mandatory Work Activity were unlawful, meaning that the withdrawn benefits should be repaid. The case was brought by Caitlin Reilly, who had been referred onto Mandatory Work Activity. The Government subsequently passed legislation retrospectively changing the law to avoid the repayments.
3. The Mayor has co-funded a further mandatory work experience pilot using £12.3 of European Social Funding. The pilot will require 6,000 people aged 18-24 with little or no work history will be forced to undertake 30 hours of work experience a week for a 13-week period in order to claim their Jobseekers’ Allowance.
4. The Mayor’s answer to Jenny’s request to drop sanctions following the ruling can be found here.
5. The London Assembly’s motion can be found here.
London Gov
