Benefit claimants who refuse to take up the offer of a training course could have their payments stopped, according to government plans.
Under the new proposals, benefit claimants who are required to actively seek or prepare for work could be mandated onto a training course to help improve their employability as part of their journey back to work.
If they refuse they could have their benefits stopped.
The new rules would apply to people in the work-related activity group of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) who need extra support and training before they become job ready, along with those claiming Jobseekers Allowance.
As reported by COVER, Work Capability Assessments that decide ESA claimants' validity are due to be significantly overhauled and made fairer having been criticised as ‘impersonal' and ‘mechanistic.'
At present just 15% of applicants are placed into the work related activity group with 6% put into the more severely impaired support group.
The remaining more than three-quarters of claimants are found fit for work.
Chris Grayling MP, Employment Minister, said: "These proposals are about making sure that people are given the best opportunities, support and encouragement to get back into work.
"We will support people but they have to do their bit too, if they are offered a training course to improve their employability they will be expected to attend. This is part of our new contract with jobseekers - the right help and support with a greater expectation to take it."
John Hayes MP, Skills Minister, added: "This is an important change, and one which we hope will result in improved participation and completion rates in skills training programmes to get more people into jobs.
"We want to work with colleges and training providers to make this process as streamlined as possible. That's in line with our goal to free skills providers from unnecessary and complex bureaucracy. I would welcome the sector's views on how best to implement these changes."
