eligibility, conditionality and sanctions westminster briefing presentation on welfare reform
DESCRIPTION
Liam Crosby gave this presentation to The Westminster Briefing’s event on Welfare Reform. The presentation covers how conditionality within the social security system has changed in recent years and how this fits within a broader, long-term change towards increasing the amount of conditions that people have to comply with to receive their benefits. The presentation highlights the need for better evidence about how well the current system works, and a better understanding of how conditionality affects the relationships between benefit claimants and their advisors. The presentation sets out four ways in which conditionality within the social security could be improved: (1) make conditionality appropriate to claimants’ individual situations, (2) make sanctions proportionate and evidence-based; (3) communicate effectively and (4) improve Jobcentre performance outcomes, to make sure conditionality is working to get people into long-term, sustainable work. A wide range of people attended the event; including many from Local Authorities and advice agencies who were interested to learn more about how welfare reform is progressing. There was an interesting discussion about what impacts different organisations are seeing as a result of changes to conditionality, and how different organisations are using conditionality. For more information contact Liam on [email protected]; or for more information on the event see: http://www.westminster-briefing.com/home/event-detail/newsarticle/welfare-reform-briefing-2014/TRANSCRIPT
Eligibility, Conditionality and Sanctions
15 September 2014
Liam Crosby
Community Links
@liamjcrosby | @comm_links
What is conditionality? (1)
3 broad ‘types’ of conditionality. Category Circumstance Conduct
Conditionality often aims to influence behaviour… or does it?
What is conditionality? (2)
Different areas where conditionality can be applied Anti-social behaviour Housing Homelessness Emergency support
Conditionality and sanctions in social security (2)
Main ‘justifications’ for conditionality: Fairness justifications Utilitarian justifications Paternalist justifications
Conditionality and sanctions in social security (1)
Key recent changes to conditionality in social security
Main recent changes: Claimant commitment rolled out
• 4 key requirements of JSA/ESA claimants Conditions for Housing Benefit (eg BT, BC) Eligibility changes for disability benefits Changes to migrants’ eligibility
Conditions also for other forms of support,
Imminent changes Waiting days
Conditionality and sanctions in social security (3)
Sanctions changing 898,390 JSA and ESA sanctions in 2013. Doubling since around 2010 Issues: hardship, effectiveness, engagement.
Rita’s story
Future of conditionality and sanctions in social security
UC conditionality Many of the key features of UC
conditionality already introduced Claimants will be split into four different
groups In-work conditionality
Four areas for improvement of conditionality and sanctions policy:
1. Appropriate conditionality
2. Proportionate sanctions
3. Clear and consistent communications
4. Improve Jobcentre Plus performance measures
…And an early action approach?
Some key questions around conditionality:
Does it address the right problem?
How effective is it?
How does it change relationship between ‘claimants’ and ‘state’?
How can we take the lessons learned from the Jobcentre’s changes to other sectors?