Pay the Jobless to Move House to Find Work

The idea has been drawn up by the Centre for Social Justice think tank, set up by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith. The jobless would be given financial help to move house to find work under a plan to tackle long-term unemployment. Anyone out of work for more than a year would be given cash by their local council to cover the costs of hiring a removals van or paying a deposit on a home. Under the proposal, the long-term unemployed would be given money if they land a job which is more than 90 minutes’ commute from where they live. The CSJ argues that people living on benefits in social housing are much less likely to be in work, and less likely to move to find a job. Read more on the Daily Mail website.

Housing Benefit Ban for Jobless Migrants

Jobless migrants from within the European Union will be denied access to housing benefit from April this year, senior government ministers have said. Home Secretary Theresa May and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said it would prevent exploitation of the UK welfare system. They will also only be able to claim jobseeker's cash for six months, unless they have a "genuine" chance of work. Labour said it was "supportive" but needed more details of the policy. A three-month ban on claims for out-of-work benefits is already in force. Read more on the BBC website.