Jobseekers must now write CVs and register with government website
Employers can expect more job applicants via Jobcentre Plus as the government outlines tougher rules for anyone hoping to receive Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).
From the 28th of April, claimants will be asked to prepare for their first interview with a Jobcentre Plus adviser by drawing up a CV, setting up an email address and registering for the government’s new jobs website Universal Jobmatch.
These steps are designed to make jobseekers more attractive to employers and support individuals to improve their employability.
However, if a jobseeker fails to meet with these requirements prior to claiming JSA they must comply quickly or face a sanction. The government said that if someone has a good reason which has prevented them registering on Universal Jobmatch or provide a CV, then they can be told to attend a course to help them comply, for example a CV clinic.
In addition to these requirements, people who need extra support will also have access to more regular meetings with their Jobcentre Plus adviser. For example, weekly rather than fortnightly to encourage them to do everything possible to look for work and to identify gaps in their job hunting.
All new JSA claimants will also have a quarterly review with their adviser where they will review their progress and targets to assess if there are any additional things they could do to find work. The government said regular progress reviews are designed to reflect the appraisals process in the workplace.
These requirements also build on the ‘claimant commitment’, which began rolling out last year and is expected to be in use nationally by the end of April. Claimants must sign a commitment to take certain actions, for example regularly applying for a minimum number of jobs, to find work.
Minister for employment Esther McVey said: “With the economy growing, unemployment falling and record numbers of people in work, now is the time to start expecting more of people if they want to claim benefits. It’s only right that we should ask people to take the first basic steps to getting a job before they start claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance – it will show they are taking their search for work seriously.
“This is about treating people like adults and setting out clearly what is expected of them so they can hit the ground running. In return, we will give people as much help and support as possible to move off benefits and into work because we know from employers that it’s the people who are prepared and enthusiastic who are most likely to get the job.”
These new measures are being introduced as Office for National Statistics figures show the number of people claiming JSA fell by more than 363,000 on the year, which is the largest annual fall since 1998. Further ONS data reveals that the employment rate has hit a five-year high and a record 30.19 million people are now in jobs and employment vacancies have also increased in the past three months by 23,000 to 588,000.
The number of people who are unemployed fell by 63,000 in the past three months, with people who have been unemployed for more than a year falling by 38,000.
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