Extra protections are being put in place for people
receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Extra protections are being put in place for people receiving
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) who have a mental health
condition or are homeless and had their benefits reduced because
of a sanction, Minister for Employment has announced.
Hardship payments act as a safety net to cover day-to-day living
costs. The changes, detailed in new regulations being laid today,
extend the number of people who can access this help immediately,
rather than waiting for 2 weeks.
The regulations will come into effect from October, and are
expected to help around 10,000 jobseekers over the next 4 years.
Minister for Employment, , said:
We want people to do everything expected of them to look for
work in return for their benefits. But when they don’t,
sanctions play a key part in the welfare system, and encourage
jobseekers to stick to the rules.
However, we know how particularly hard it can be for some
people to get back on their feet in difficult circumstances.
That’s why we’re extending immediate access to hardship
payments to cover jobseekers who are homeless or have a mental
health condition so they can focus on accessing available
support and getting back into employment.
In the last year on average less than 2% of JSA recipients were
sanctioned each month.
Other vulnerable groups, including people who are pregnant, lone
parents, and people with long term physical health conditions can
already access hardship payments immediately.
A number of additional protections are already in place for
eligible jobseekers who are homeless. For example, work coaches
can temporarily put jobseeking requirements on hold while a
homeless person finds accommodation. Also, targeted specialised
support can be made available to someone who might be at risk of
homelessness.
Immediate access to hardship payments is already available to
people receiving Universal Credit who have received a sanction.
Sanctions are only used in a very small percentage of cases. In
the last year on average less than 2% of JSA recipients were
sanctioned each month.
Immediate access to hardship payments is available for vulnerable
groups following a successful application.
The new regulations will cover eligible claimants who are
homeless, suffering from a mental impairment, including a mental
health condition, and their partners.
