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

1. 1
Universal Credit Vision & Jobseekers
Allowance - Claimant Commitment
- paving the way for Universal Credit
June 2014

2. 2
Aims
• To put the introduction of the JSA Claimant Commitment in the
context of Universal Credit.
• Describe key elements of new approach.

3. 3
Universal Credit
An Overview

4. 4
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

5. 5
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.

6. 6
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.

7. 7
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.

8. 8
Moving towards Universal Credit –
national rollout of the Claimant
Commitment

9. 9
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).

10. 10 Slide 10
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.

11. 11
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.

12. 12
Claimant Commitment
Jobseekers 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.”

13. 13
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.

14. 14
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.

15. 15
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

16. 16
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.

17. 17
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.