Legal News
Government Overestimated Number of Unemployed Helped By Work Programme (27 January 2012)
Date: 27/01/2012
According to the figures from the National Audit Office (NAO), the Government has overestimated the amount of individuals able to be helped back into work by its new work programme. The National Audit Office claimed that 26 per cent of unemployed over-25-year-olds would acquire jobs, in comparison to the official prediction of 40 per cent. The report has also claimed that there was a chance that some back-to-work programme providers may “cut corners” in order to remain in profit by disregarding harder-to-reach individuals. The employment minister has told of his disappointment at the report.
The employment programme has been in operation in England, Wales and Scotland since June of last year and will fund private sector organizations by their results, if they are successful in helping the unemployed to enter into employment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) predicts that it will cost around £4 billion over the coming five years and may aid 3.3 million individuals.
The NAO's report praised the employment programme, claiming that the DWP had made efforts to learn from previous work programmes. However, it cautioned that the hastiness at which it had been introduced had resulted in risks. The computer systems required to ensure that individuals who acquire work stop receiving welfare benefits are not set to be in operation until March, the report said, resulting in a heightened chance of fraud and error. However, Amyas Morse, the NAO’s head, warned that it was too soon to judge the work programme's success.
Duncan Lewis’ welfare benefits solicitors are able to assess unemployed individuals’ eligibility to receiving financial support from the Government.