Welfare reform

Unum is challenging six UK bloggers to live on Employment Support Allowance (ESA) for one week to highlight the importance of workers protecting their income.

Benefit claimants will be fined instantly if they negligently give wrong information on their claim.

Government and the protection industry must seize this window of opportunity if the welfare reform agenda is to succeed, a Group Risk Development (Grid) roundtable has concluded.

Jobcentre Plus staff have revealed ‘serious reservations' about a nationwide roll-out the reassessment of incapacity benefit claimants for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Only 5% of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit recipients move back into work although the threat of sanctions is working, according to a government report.

Benefit claimants face reduced payments if they fail to perform certain work-related activities, according to new regulations which come into force today.

The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) will not provide a gateway to the selling of protection products, according to think tank Reform.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank has applauded the government's first year of welfare reform calling it "an impressive start".

MPs have condemned some of the coalition's most controversial plans for welfare reform and called for them to be scrapped in two early day motions (EDMs).

The government has vowed to press ahead with reform of the welfare state as its latest statistics show less than a quarter of those applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are successful.