Thursday, 17 February 2011

Government Revises Benefit Cuts for Unemployed

The government is promising to make poor people "better off" as it sets out plans to ensure those in work are paid more than the unemployed. A "universal credit", sanctions for those turning down jobs and a cap on benefits paid to a single family are among the changes outlined. But ministers have dropped plans to impose a 10% housing benefit cut for anyone unemployed for more than a year. Labour backs some changes but says help for people to find work is inadequate. The changes, outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill, include:
* A single universal credit to come into force in 2013
* Tax changes to enable people to keep more income
* Changes to the disability living allowance
* More details of the back-to-work programme
* Those refusing to work facing a maximum three-year loss of benefits
* Annual benefit cap of about £26,000 per family
* Review of sickness absence levels
Read more on the BBC website.

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