Summary
The Government's vision for the welfare state is one where everyone is required to fulfill their responsibilities to prepare for, look for, and take up work with support provided at all stages - particularly given the recent economic downturn.
This White Paper, 'Raising Expectations and Increasing Support: Reforming Welfare for the Future' (Cm. 7506), follows the consultation paper, 'No One Written Off: Reforming Welfare to Reward Responsibility' (Cm. 7363), which was itself based on the reforms proposed by David Freud in his Report 'Reducing Dependency, Increasing Opportunity: Options for the Future of Welfare to Work'. It sets out how the Government plans to take the proposals forward.
The Government proposes a simpler benefits system with the development of a single income-replacement benefit for people of working age: initially those currently on Income Support will move to either the Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance.
Jobcentre Plus is an effective delivery vehicle and will receive an extra £1.3 billion funding but it will be supported by more use of private and voluntary services (which already supply 40% of DWP's employment programmes). Devolving power to the local level will increase effectiveness of service delivery.
Changes to Housing Benefit will also be investigated in 2009.
This Paper also responds to and supports the Gregg Review on personal conditionality, 'Realising Potential: A Vision for Personalised Conditionality and Support', where everyone on benefits is expected to take active steps towards work. Support for disabled people will be enhanced and become more personalised.
Those on incapacity benefits will move to the Employment and Support Allowance. More support for jobseekers will be matched by higher expectations. All the reforms are designed to increase employment and release resources for the ending of child poverty by 2020.
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