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Roll out of claimant commitment
We were wondering here what exactly the national roll out of the claimant commitment from October meant. So we asked DWP. Here is their answer. Apologies if this is already known.
“Thank you for your e-mail of 30 July to the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Team of the Department for Work and Pensions, regarding the roll out of the Claimant Commitment from October 2013. I have been asked to reply.
Our plan is to make the full transition to Universal Credit in a safe and managed way. The transition from the current system of benefits and tax credits to Universal Credit will be gradual. National rollout will start from October 2013 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
The early introduction of Universal Credit began in areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire from April 2013. This is known as a Pathfinder, and it is trialing Universal Credit with a limited number of people before progressive national roll-out begins in October. From October we will begin rolling-out Universal Credit to a further six Jobcentres.
Your understanding of how the Claimant Commitment applies in Universal Credit is correct. All Universal Credit claimants are required to accept a Claimant Commitment as a condition of entitlement. Couples who live together make a joint claim for Universal Credit and each will have their own Claimant Commitment. As Universal Credit is rolled out to more Jobcentres, this will apply to all Universal Credit claimants.
From October 2013, we will also roll out the Claimant Commitment to claimants of Jobseekers Allowance. It will replace the Jobseekers Agreement (JSAG). Couples who live together but who have no children, make a joint claim to Jobseekers Allowance. Except for these joint claims, the Claimant Commitment will not be introduced for partners of claimants to Jobseekers Allowance. Similarly the Claimant Commitment is not being introduced for claimants of Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance.
I hope this information is helpful.”
Thanks, yes it is useful - I had assumed it meant JSA claims, but it’s essential to understand which claimants. It shouldn’t apply to any of our clients as we advise parents, so this is good to know.
Thanks for this, very helpful.
It also seems to scotch the idea that U/C national roll-out is being shelved/postponed.
It shouldn’t apply to any of our clients as we advise parents.
It reads as though Claimant Commitment will apply to single parents who claim Jobseekers Allowance. Do you agree?
Sorry Robbie, yes, I do agree. I posted in haste - we do have some single parents on JSA, and yes the claimant commitment will apply to them when it reaches their Jobcentres. In fact, the actions of some JC+ advisers suggests they are already acting differently - there are lots of examples of pressure being put on single parent claimants with children under 13 to seek hours outside of school hours, when the regs say they don’t have to (I don’t think the claimant commitment changes this at all, but there is a lot of misunderstanding).
Will
Sorry I am not getting this!
What is the legal basis for the Claimant Commitment, in areas that do not have UC, without amending the JSA Regs (2 steps pw etc)?
Have a look at this thread which starts with another letter to Rosie:
http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/5264/
Looks like there won’t be any change to the law just using claimant commitments as jobseekers agreements - so it won’t have the same standing as a claimant commitment in UC.
Exactly - there is a big difference between making looking for work your full-time job and taking at least 2 steps pw to find work. So is the feeling that JCP will start sanctioning people for not following a claimant commitment when there is not legal basis to do this yet, which is very worrying?