universal credit vision & jobseekers allowance - claimant commitment (dwp)

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1 Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment - paving the way for Universal Credit

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Tinder Foundation Employability Specialist Network Event - 19th June 2014 Presentation from Kathy Stokes (DWP)

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Page 1: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment

- paving the way for Universal Credit

June 2014

Page 2: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Aims

• To put the introduction of the JSA Claimant Commitment in the context of Universal Credit.

• Describe key elements of new approach.

Page 3: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Universal Credit

An Overview

Page 4: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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What will Universal Credit achieve?

• Universal Credit is the most significant reform of the welfare system for a generation.

• By removing the barriers and disincentives to work and making the system simpler…

– 350,000 children and 600,000 working-age adults could be lifted out of poverty

– there will be 300,000 fewer workless households

– And £2bn a year saved by reducing fraud and error overpayments in the long term

Page 5: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a new benefit that replaces 6 existing benefits with a single monthly payment into claimant’s bank accounts. This transition has already begun.

Universal Credit will help claimants to be better off in work, start a new job or work more hours.

Universal Credit will replace the following 6, current benefits:

1. Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

2. Income- related Employment and Support Allowance.

3. Income Support.

4. Working Tax Credit.

5. Child Tax Credit.

6. Housing Benefit.

Page 6: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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How is Universal Credit different for jobseekers?Unemployed claimants who can work (would be eligible for JSA) will be placed into an intensive worksearch regime.

They must take “all reasonable action” to obtain work.

To achieve this (and avoid sanctions) they will normally be expected to treat this as their job - spending the same number of hours engaged in work search and work preparation activity as they would spend at work.

Typically 35 hours a week of activity.

Requirements will be recorded in a Claimant Commitment which they must accept.Claimants are responsible (with our help and support) for planning and meeting their requirements.

Page 7: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Universal Credit - roll out from October 2013

What information will claimants need to make their claim? All claims will be made on line– Postcode – National Insurance Number– Details of the bank, building society or Post Office account they

want Universal Credit paid into – Rent agreement (if they have one) – Details of savings or other capital – Details of any income that’s not from work (eg from an insurance

plan) – Details of any other benefits they may be receiving – It should take 20 to 40 minutes to complete the claim.– If the customer is successful, they’ll usually get their first payment

1 month and 7 days after they made their claim.

Please note - the session will time out and claimants will have to start again if they are inactive for more than 20 minutes.

Page 8: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Moving towards Universal Credit –

national rollout of the Claimant

Commitment

Page 9: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Background The introduction of the JSA new Claimant Commitment is a critical

building block to pave the way for the cultural transformation that Universal Credit will deliver.

The rollout of the claimant commitment aims to ensure claimants:

– Are clear about the requirements they must meet

– Recognise they must do all they reasonably can to find work

– Take responsibility for getting themselves into work

– Have a detailed plan of action in place that they are committed to following

– And are coached and supported to ensure they are taking the right action (at the right time).

Page 10: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Claimant Commitment (JSA Regime)

Key Changes The Jobseekers Allowance Claimant Commitment was

rolled out to the 714 jobcentres across Britain between October 2013 and April 2014.

When someone makes a new claim to Jobseekers Allowance, or returns from the Work Programme, they will attend an interview with a Job Coach. The Job Coach will then discuss and draw up a Claimant Commitment with the claimant.

Page 11: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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What is the Claimant Commitment?

The Claimant Commitment places more responsibility on the claimant for getting themselves into work with the support of a Job Coach.

It stresses the importance of claimants having a detailed plan of action that they are committed to following.

Claimants are clear about the requirements they must meet, including doing all they reasonably can to find work.

Claimants are coached and supported to ensure they are taking the right action.

Page 12: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Claimant CommitmentJobseekers Allowance Regime

There is an expectation that claimants will be looking for work everyday, including Saturday and Sunday.

The message is “ It is a full-time job to find a job.”

Page 13: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Key Documents-

There are 3 key documents built into the Claimant Commitment.

Jobseeker’s Profile-strengths and experience to help focus jobsearch

Legal requirements- clear and simple statement of what the claimant must do in return for benefit

The Work Plan-claimants are coached to complete a detailed action plan of HOW they will meet their requirements. Essentially, this revolves around the claimant's responsibility for PLANNING the steps to take to find work.

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My Work Plan-Steps to take……….

Looking at the Labour Market-what work is available in the area and their ability to do the job.?Does the claimant have a CV, and, if applying for several types of work, do they have several CV.s? Have they uploaded their CV to Universal Job Match?Have they factored in time for their jobsearch?

The Work Plan booklet is an essential part of the new regime as it turns the Claimant Commitment into reality for individuals-for example, breaking down “I will search for work daily” into specific steps( when, what sites, where)

The Coach has a critical role-ensuring the claimant has a plan to take all reasonable steps to secure employment.

Page 15: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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Make it detailed

• On the computers in the Jobcentre (Not an IAD!)

• In my living room after buying the papers

• After breakfast• After football practice• After coming back

from taking the kids to school

• On Universal Jobmatch

• On Reed• On Monster• In the Essex Rover

and the Daily Express

• Look for 5 job vacancies in:

• Retail• Admin • Labouring• Consulting

Page 16: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMANT COMMITMENT

The Claimant Commitment has demonstrated the culture change that Universal Credit will introduce. Job Coaches are highlighting this change to claimants and stressing the added requirements and expectations this places on them.

Claimants are expected to undertake, and provide, evidence of detailed work search and the My Work Plan enables them to do this in a structured way.

Staff feel there is now a clear focus from claimants on what they are expected to do and the steps they need to take to achieve this.

Page 17: Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers Allowance - Claimant Commitment (DWP)

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POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR YOU

Claimants will be expected to either have a CV in place or have made structured plans to obtain one within the first 2 weeks of making a claim to Jobseekers Allowance. They will also be required to spend more time in structured jobsearch.

This may well result in more people seeking help from your organisations and requiring longer time to satisfy their Work Plan obligations.

Additionally, claimants will need to embrace digitalisation.