DOCSLIB.ORG

Invalidity Benefit

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Invalidity Benefit Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General NATIONAL AUDIT EICE Invalidity Benefit Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 13 December 1989 Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London E4.60 net 91 This report has been prepared under Section 6 of the National Audit Act, 1983 for presentation to the House of Commons in accordance with Section 9 of the Act. John Bourn Comptroller and Auditor General National Audit Office 11 December 1989 The Comptroller and Auditor General is the head of the National Audit Office employing sxne 900 staff. He, and the NAO, are totally independent of Government. He certifies the accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies use their resources. Contents Pages Summary and conclusions 1 Part 1: Introduction 6 Part 2: Growth of Benefit Expenditure 8 Part 3: Role of General Practitioners and the Regional Medical Service in the control process 11 Part 4: Control by Local Offices 16 Appendices 1: Legislation and case law on incapacity for work 21 2: Surveys and samples 22 3: Potential savings from improved control 23 Summary and conclusions 1. Invalidity Benefit is paid to those incapable of work because of long-term sickness. Recipients increased horn 760,000 in 1983-84 to just over one million in 1987-88. The Department of Social Security expect that by 1990-91 there will be 1.3 million people drawing the benefit. Between 1983-84 and 1987-88 expenditure increased from E2.39 billion to E3.15 billion, and is forecast to exceed f4 billion in 1990-91 (all at 1989 prices). 2. Invalidity Benefit is payable under the Social Security Act 1975. It is administered by the Department of Social Security who assess and pay benefit. It is non-taxable. To qualify for the benefit, a claimant must be incapable of work. Once incapacity has lasted seven days the claimant normally provides a doctor’s statement signed by a General Practitioner or hospital doctor, advising the claimant to refrain from work for a specified period. If incapacity has lasted six months and the doctor considers the claimant is unlikely ever to become capable of work, the doctor may advise the claimant to refrain from work until further notice. 3. In each local office of the Department of Social Security claims for benefit, and questions arising in connection with claims, are decided by Adjudication Officers. These individuals are independent statutory authorities appointed by Act of Parliament to determine entitlement to benefit in accordance with Social Security legislation. Claimants obtaining a statement advising them to refrain from work will almost invariably be awarded Invalidity Benefit by the Adjudication Officer in the Department of Social Security local office provided they also have an adequate National Insurance Contribution record. 4. In England, the Department of Health’s Regional Medical Service, acting as the Department of Social Security’s agents, are responsible for providing Department of Social Security local offices on request with second opinions on the working capacity of claimants who have been issued doctor’s statements advising them to refrain from work or who have been paid benefit on the basis of other evidence. Most of these opinions are provided by part-time medical referees (practising or retired General Practitioners or retired Regional Medical Officers) employed on a sessional basis. The full-time Regional Medical Officers also undertake liaison duties for the Department of Health. This involves discussions with General Practitioners and others involved in the provision of primary health care services on a wide range of issues. 5. In Wales, the Welsh Office provide this service. In Scotland, the Scottish Home and Health Department provide a similar service, but there a higher proportion of examinations are carried out by full-time Regional Medical Officers. 1 6. In the light of the increase in both beneficiaries and expenditure, the National Audit Office examined the control systems operated by the Department of Social Security through their local offices, General Practitioners and the Regional Medical Service. A number of samples and surveys were conducted by the National Audit Office, including a survey of Regional Medical Service part-time referees. In addition, the National Audit Office commissioned Gallup to conduct a survey of General Practitioners. A summary of the Gallup Survey is published separately and is available, price E5, from the Information Centre, National Audit Office, Buckingham Palace Road, London SWlW 9SP. 7. The National Audit Office addressed three main issues: (a) the reasons for the growth in numbers of beneficiaries and expenditure; (b) whether - the Department of Social Security have ensured that General Practitioners are aware of their obligations in signing medical statements; and that - the Health Departments, in conjunction with the Department of Social Security, have ensured that the Regional Medical Service operate efficiently and effectively in providing advice to General Practitioners and second opinions for the Department; (c) whether the control system operated by local offices is being properly and efficiently applied. Growth in 8. In examining the reasons for the growth in expenditure, the National expenditure Audit Office found that: (a) although benefit conditions have been tightened the numbers receiving Invalidity Benefit are expected to continue to grow (paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3); (b) three principal trends underly the increase in numbers receiving benefit: each year more people come on to the benefit than come off and on average individuals are receiving the benefit longer; the average age of recipients is increasing; and the proportion of married women receiving the benefit is also increasing [paragraphs 2.4 to 2~); (c) research undertaken by the Department, and externally, into the reasons for these trends has identified no major increase in the incidence of incapacitating diseases although there is some evidence that within an unchanged incidence of heart disease there is a longer duration of incapacity because of a decrease in mortality (paragraph 2.9); but (d) the research indicates that non-medical factors, including the increase in unemployment in the early 198Os, are likely to have played a significant part in the growth (paragraphs 2.10 and 2.11). 9. The National Audit Office have found that the growth in expenditure on invalidity benefit reflects an increase both in the number and duration of claims. Evidence suggests that non-medical factors have contributed to this growth rather than any underlying increase in the incidence of sickness. 2 General 10. In examining whether the Departments have ensured that General Practitioners and Practitioners are aware of their obligations in signing statements the Regional Medical National Audit Office found that: Service (a) 38 per cent of the General Practitioners who responded to the survey said they had received no routine training or advice. Despite this complaint about the lack of advice, however, only 19 per cent said they consulted the Department’s guidance handbook which is issued to all General Practitioners. The Department of Health told the National Audit Office that these findings conflicted with their own experience of matters raised by General Practitioners (paragraphs 3.15 to 3.19). (b) despite guidance in the handbook only 47 per cent of the General Practitioners identified as one of their roles the provision of factual evidence on a patient’s fitness for alternative work. This is a matter which General Practitioners are asked to consider after an individual’s incapacity has lasted for six months (paragraph 3.20); (c) in advising a patient whether or not to refrain from work, General Practitioners properly take account of family and social circumstances which might have a bearing on the individual’s medical condition. The Gallup survey found that other factors taken into account included loss of benefit if the statement is refused and the fact that a claimant may have been advised by the Job Centre to seek a statement (but since February 1989 the Department of Employment have, at the request of the Department of Social Security, issued letters to claimants and General Practitioners which make it clear that the General Practitioner is asked to provide advice on the claimant’s fitness for work) (paragraph 3.22). 11. In examining whether the Departments have ensured that the Regional Medical Service operate efficiently and effectively, the National Audit Office found that: (a) uncertainty exists among some of the part-time medical staff of the Service as to their role in the benefit process; the Department of Health attribute this to the different considerations these staff apply in their primary role as General Practitioners (paragraph 3.23); (b) both Divisional Medical Officers and referees were concerned about poor quality reports from some General Practitioners, leading to unnecessary work [paragraph 3.27); (c) in England and Wales the Regional Medical Service have had difficulty in dealing as promptly as they would wish with the increasing number of cases requiring second opinions (paragraphs 4.21 and 4.22); (d) the time taken to process referrals for second opinions is a contributory factor to the overall delay in the cessation of benefit for those claimants whom it is ultimately decided no longer qualify (paragraph 4.29). 12. The National Audit Office have found a degree of uncertainty among General Practitioners and, to a much lesser extent, among part-time 3 INvALnJrTYBENEFrr referees, about their responsibilities in considering whether or not an individual is capable of work. The National Audit Office conclude that to a significant extent General Practitioners appear to be overlooking the requirement to consider the individual’s capacity for alternative work. General Practitioners also appear to be giving too much weight to family and and social circumstances, although there are occasions when these factors should properly be considered.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pulling in Different Directions? the Impact of Economic Recovery and Continued Changes to Social Security on Health and Health Inequalities in Scotland
    Pulling in different directions? The impact of economic recovery and continued changes to social security on health and health inequalities in Scotland Martin Taulbut, Wendy Hearty, Fiona Myers, Neil Craig and Gerry McCartney 2016 We are happy to consider requests for other languages or formats. Please contact 0131 314 5300 or email [email protected] Research undertaken June 2014–October 2015. This document should be cited as: Taulbut M, Hearty W, Myers F, Craig N, McCartney G. Pulling in different directions? The impact of economic recovery and continued changes to social security on health and health inequalities in Scotland. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland; 2016 Published by NHS Health Scotland 1 South Gyle Crescent Edinburgh EH12 9EB © NHS Health Scotland 2016 All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part without prior permission of NHS Health Scotland (or other copyright owners). While every effort is made to ensure that the information given here is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. NHS Health Scotland is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion and Public Health Development. Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 2 Selected glossary of terms ......................................................................................... 3 Executive summary ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Your Social Security Rights in United Kingdom
    Your social security rights in the United Kingdom European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Your social security rights in the United Kingdom The information provided in this guide has been drafted and updated in close collaboration with the national correspondents of the Mutual Information System on Social Protection (MISSOC). The MISSOC-Network, coordinated since 1990 by the European Commission, comprises up to two official representatives of the public administrations of 31 European countries (the 27 EU Member States, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland). MISSOC produces regularly updated information and analyses which are mainly used by officials, researchers and people moving within Europe. More information on the MISSOC network is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=815 This guide does not provide an exhaustive description of the social security arrangements applicable in this country. For more detailed information on social security in this and other European countries, please refer to the MISSOC Comparative Tables, the MISSOC Charts and Descriptions of the Organisation of Social Protection and to the MISSOC Annex on Social Protection for the Self-employed, all available at the abovementioned link. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission may be held responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this publication. © European Union, 2011 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 2 December 2010 European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Your social security rights in the United Kingdom Chapter I: Introduction, organisation and financing.....................................................5 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 5 Organisation of social protection...............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Disability Benefits
    Disability benefits Disability benefits are one of the areas on which the Government is focusing its root and branch review of social security policy. Richard Berthoud of the University of Essex has reviewed research on the role of social security in the lives of disabled people. His review shows that: The cost of disability benefits has increased fourfold in 18 years. This has been caused more by a rise in the number of disabled claimants than by any improvement in the generosity of the available benefits. The growth in the number of disabled people claiming because they were out of work was not caused by a rise in the number of initial claims, but by an increase in the length of time individuals remained on benefit. The same trend occurred in all age-groups, not just the over-50s. Disabled people may have been affected by a much wider and systematic shift in employment patterns. As the supply of labour has expanded faster than demand, employers have become more selective in their choice of staff. Marginal workers, such as disabled people, have been excluded. The number of people who lost entitlement after Incapacity Benefit rules were tightened up was less than expected. Preliminary evidence suggests that very few of them found a job, and the question remains whether they were ‘capable of work’. Recent evidence suggests that perhaps one-tenth of those receiving Disability Living Allowance may not be entitled to it. But underclaiming is at least as important as overclaiming. Both of the main types of disability benefits seem to have gradually extended further down the scale of severity over the years.
    [Show full text]
  • Patients Eligible for Free Nhs Sight Tests
    PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE NHS SIGHT TESTS Patients under 16 years of age Glaucoma Patients Patients aged 60 or over Prisoners on day release from Prison Diabetic Patients Patients being prescribed complex lenses Patients over the age of 40 who are a Patients under 19 and in qualifying full time direct relative of a glaucoma patient (i.e. education Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Son, Daughter) Patients registered blind/partially sighted Patients considered to be at risk of Glaucoma with a Local Authority by and Ophthalmologist Patients claiming or named as partners of the following benefits: Income Support Income Based Job Seekers Allowance Income Based Employment & Support In receipt of and included on a named NHS Tax Allowance Credit Exemption Certificate Holders of HC2 Certificates HC3 may be entitled to help towards the cost of a private sight test Universal Credit and meet the criteria (see Pension Credit guarantee credit below) PATIENTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR NHS SIGHT TEST Claimants of only: Housing Benefit Invalidity Benefit (severe or otherwise) Incapacity Benefit (severe or otherwise) Child Benefit Contribution Based Job Seekers Contribution Based Employment and Support Allowance Allowance Disability Living Allowance Personal Independence Payment Patients who only have the following conditions and are not claiming any of the eligible benefits: Pregnant women or women with children Patients with learning difficulties under one year old Help with health cost entitlement Universal Credit criteria You qualify if, on the date you claim
    [Show full text]
  • New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in the UK: the Role of Health and the Local Labour Market
    DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES IZA DP No. 12825 New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in the UK: The Role of Health and the Local Labour Market Jennifer Roberts Karl Taylor DECEMBER 2019 DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES IZA DP No. 12825 New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in the UK: The Role of Health and the Local Labour Market Jennifer Roberts University of Sheffield Karl Taylor University of Sheffield and IZA DECEMBER 2019 Any opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and not those of IZA. Research published in this series may include views on policy, but IZA takes no institutional policy positions. The IZA research network is committed to the IZA Guiding Principles of Research Integrity. The IZA Institute of Labor Economics is an independent economic research institute that conducts research in labor economics and offers evidence-based policy advice on labor market issues. Supported by the Deutsche Post Foundation, IZA runs the world’s largest network of economists, whose research aims to provide answers to the global labor market challenges of our time. Our key objective is to build bridges between academic research, policymakers and society. IZA Discussion Papers often represent preliminary work and are circulated to encourage discussion. Citation of such a paper should account for its provisional character. A revised version may be available directly from the author. ISSN: 2365-9793 IZA – Institute of Labor Economics Schaumburg-Lippe-Straße 5–9 Phone: +49-228-3894-0 53113 Bonn, Germany Email: [email protected] www.iza.org IZA DP No. 12825 DECEMBER 2019 ABSTRACT New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in the UK: The Role of Health and the Local Labour Market* During the 1980s and 1990s there was a steep rise in disability benefit claims in the UK, especially among older male workers, and the debate centred on the relative generosity of these benefits as well as the effects of deindustrialisation and job destruction.
    [Show full text]
  • Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 Contents (SD123/95, Schedule 7)
    S.I. 1995/310 Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 Contents (SD123/95, Schedule 7) The Social Security Legislation (Application) (No. 4) Order 1995 (SD123/95) was made 7 April 1995 and approved by Tynwald 16 May 1995. That Order applies the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/310) to the Island as set out in Schedule 7 to that Order. [1Paragraph (3)] of article 2 to the application Order provides that unless the contrary intention appears, words and expressions appearing in the applied legislation (as amended or otherwise) are to be construed according to the Interpretation Act 1978 (of Parliament)2. 1995 No. 310 SOCIAL SECURITY The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS Part I - Introduction 1. Citation, commencement and interpretation Part II - Provisions common to the transition to incapacity benefit from sickness benefit and invalidity benefit 2. Days to be treated as days of incapacity for work 3. Linking periods of interruption of employment and periods of incapacity for work 4. Calculation of days in a period of incapacity for work 5. Claims for sickness benefit or invalidity benefit made on or after the appointed day 6. Interchange of sickness benefit and invalidity benefit with claims for other benefits 7. Persons deemed to be incapable of work (Revoked) 8. Direct credit transfer 9. Disqualification 10. Suspension of payment of transitional awards Part III - Provisions for the transition to incapacity benefit from sickness benefit 11. Transitional awards of short-term incapacity benefit 12. Special provision for persons entitled to short-term incapacity benefit on termination of employment after a period of entitlement to disability working allowance 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Abolition of the ESA Work-Related Activity Component
    BRIEFING PAPER CBP 7649, 7 March 2017 By Steven Kennedy, Chris Abolition of the ESA Work- Murphy, Richard Keen and Alex Bate Related Activity Component Inside: 1. What is ESA? 2. How many people claim ESA? 3. How much is ESA worth? 4. What is happening to the Work-Related Activity Component? 5. Who is affected? 6. Why are these changes being introduced? 7. What happened in the proceedings of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016? 8. Will mitigating support be available? 9. How have disability organisations responded? 10. What has been said in Parliament? 11. What has the Work and Pensions Committee said about the changes? 12. Is further detail available? www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary Number CBP 7649, 7 March 2017 2 Contents Summary 3 1. What is ESA? 5 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 5 The Work Capability Assessment 5 Roll out of Universal Credit 6 2. How many people claim ESA? 7 Current caseload – ESA claimants by phase 7 Historic caseload – ESA and predecessor benefits 8 Duration of ESA claims 9 Claims by condition 10 3. How much is ESA worth? 11 Standard and additional rates 11 Rationale for ESA rates 11 Expenditure on ESA and predecessor benefits 13 4. What is happening to the Work-Related Activity Component? 14 5. Who is affected? 15 6. Why are these changes being introduced? 16 A “perverse incentive”? 16 Expected savings 16 7. What happened in the proceedings of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016? 18 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Incapacity Benefit Reform
    INCAPACITY BENEFIT REFORM Sheffield Hallam University City Campus The local, regional Sheffield S1 1WB +44 (0)114 225 3073 and national impact e: [email protected] w: shu.ac.uk/cresr Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill CRESR Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research ISBN 978-1-84387-342-6 INCAPACITY BENEFIT REFORM The local, regional and national impact Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research Sheffield Hallam University November 2011 This report is the result of independent academic research supported by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research Key points • Major reforms to the incapacity benefits system are underway. These include a tougher medical test, the re-testing of existing claimants and the time-limiting of entitlement to non-means tested benefit. The impact of the reforms has so far barely been felt. • The report estimates that by 2014 the reforms will cut incapacity claimant numbers by nearly one million, of which more than 800,000 will be existing incapacity claimants who will lose their entitlement. These figures are based on experience in the areas where the reforms have been piloted and on the DWP’s own assumptions about the impact of the reforms. • The loss of entitlement is entirely the result of new benefit rules. It does not necessarily indicate that the health problems or disabilities that previously gave entitlement are anything other than genuine. • Nearly 600,000 incapacity claimants will be pushed out of the benefits system entirely, either because they will fall foul of the time-limit on non-means tested entitlement or because they fail to qualify for other means-tested benefits.
    [Show full text]
  • DMG Abbreviations
    #&G A((reviations AA Attendance Allowance paid under s 64 of the SS (CB) Act !" Attendance Allowance as defned in 3S (Gen) 4egs. reg 2(&) or "AA1 JSA. reg &(3 ADC Actual Date of Confnement AD+ Adviser Discretion +und AD3 Adult Dependency 3ncrease A+30 Ar6ed +orces 3ndependence 0a,6ent A30 Assessed 3ncome 0eriod AMG Appropriate Mini6u6 Guarantee A0 Additional 0ension A00 Adoption 0a, 0eriod Art Article AS7 Activel, seekin$ emplo,6ent AT Appeal Tribunal A9T All 9or8 Test BA Bereavement Allowance BACS Ban8ers Automated Cleanin$ S,stem BB Bereavement Benefts B: Board and :odgin$ B0 Basic 0ension/Bereavement 0remiu6 B0T Bereavement 0a,6ent BSG Best Start Grant BS0 Bereavement support pa,6ents BTEC Business and Technolog, Education Council B9C Beneft 9eek Com6encin$ B97 Beneft 9eek Endin$ CA Carer;s Allowance CAA Constant Attendance Allowance Cat Categor, CB Contributor, Beneft CC Com6unit, Char$e CD3 Child Dependency 3ncrease CD0 Child Disabilit, 0a,6ent CESC Council of European Social Charter C<B Child Beneft C<B(L0 Child Beneft for :one 0arents C57= Court of 5ustice of the European =nion CMB Child Maintenance Bonus CM0 Child Maintenance 0remiu6 C0 Carer 0remiu6 C0en Civil 0enalt, CSM Child Support Maintenance CT Council Ta> CTA Com6on Travel Area CTB Council Ta> Beneft CTC Child Ta> Credit CT+ Com6unit, Tas8 +orce CTM Contribution to Maintenance C90 Cold 9eather 0a,6ent Cw0 Com6unit, wor8 0lacements DC0 Disabled Child 0remiu6 DCT Direct Credit Transfer D< Depart6ent of <ealth Dis G Disablement Gratuit, Dis 0 Disablement 0ension D:A Disabilit,
    [Show full text]
  • Incapacity Benefit to Industrial Injuries Benefit Contents
    Part 4 - Incapacity Benefit to Industrial Injuries Benefit Contents Introduction to incapacity benefit ......................................................... 073780 Types of European Community Invalidity Benefit ...................................... 073782 Residence and presence conditions .......................................................... 073783 Treating a day of absence as a day of residence ................................. 073785 Contribution conditions Introduction ................................................................................................. 073790 European Community provisions ............................................................... 073791 Reciprocal agreements .............................................................................. 073793 Incapable of work in another European Economic Area country ...... 073800 Disqualified for being absent from Great Britain ................................. 073810 Avoiding disqualification under United Kingdom provisions Introduction ................................................................................................. 073820 Period for which benefit can be paid .......................................................... 073823 Payment limited to 26 weeks ..................................................................... 073824 Payment not limited to 26 weeks Left Great Britain before 8.3.94 ............................................................. 073827 Receiving AA or DLA ...........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Your Social Security Rights in the Netherlands
    Your social security rights in the Netherlands EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Directorate D: Social Rights and Inclusion Unit D.2: Social Protection Contact: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=2&langId=en&acronym=contact European Commission B-1049 Brussels EUROPEAN COMMISSION Your social security rights in the Netherlands 2021 Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Manuscript completed in July 2021 This document should not be considered as representative of the European Commission’s official position. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021 © European Union, 2021 The reuse policy of European Commission documents is implemented by Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). Unless otherwise noted, the reuse of this document is authorised under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This means that reuse is allowed provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated. For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the European Union, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective rightholders. Your social security rights in the Netherlands At some point in our lives we may well need to depend on social security benefits. These are available for nationals living in their own country who meet the relevant requirements, but you also have a right to claim if you are from one EU country and are legally living or working in the Netherlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Jobseeker's Allowance
    Jobseeker's Allowance Research Paper 96/5 16 January 1996 A number of draft Regulations connected with the introduction of Jobseeker's Allowance in October 1996 are due to be debated on 17 January. Most of this Research Paper is devoted to summarising the main Jobseeker's Allowance provisions, as contained in the draft Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996. However, it does look briefly at the Back to Work Bonus, National Insurance rebates for employers who take on the long term unemployed and improvements to housing benefit for people who return to work. For more detailed background and commentary on Jobseeker's Allowance, see Library Research Paper 94/129. Pat Strickland Education & Social Services Section House of Commons Library Library Research Papers are compiled for the benefit of Members of Parliament and their personal staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise members of the general public. CONTENTS Page I Summary 5 II Introduction 6 III The Draft Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 7 A. Availability for Work 7 1. Working Hours 7 2. Pay 7 3. The "Permitted Period" 7 4. Groups allowed to be available with notice 7 B. Actively Seeking Work 8 1. Steps to be Taken 8 2. Behaviour and Appearance 9 C. The Jobseeker's Agreement 9 D. Waiting Days 10 E. "Remunerative Work" 10 F. Sanctions and Hardship Payments 11 1. The Current Rules 11 2. Disqualification 11 3. "Good Cause" 12 4. Hardship Payments 13 G. Rates of benefit 14 H. Earnings Disregards 15 I.
    [Show full text]