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The Labour party has begun to flesh out some of its unemployment policies.
Last week Ed Miliband gave a speech in which he set out some of the bare bones, including a three-year benefit cap, support for the living wage, and higher benefits for those who have paid National Insurance for at least 5 years.
Today Labour's work and pensions spokesman, Liam Byrne, has identified older workers as particular victims of the economic downturn.
This month sees some of the government's biggest benefit cuts since it came to power in 2010.
According to the Child Poverty Action Group, 42 benefit changes will be made, including some affecting millions of people.
Those that particularly affect unemployed people include:
Employment Minister Mark Hoban has threatened Jobseeker's Allowance claimants with tougher sanctions if they 'play the system'.
Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Hoban said 'there are some out there who don't want to roll up their sleeves, and who think they can play the system. Well I've got news for them – they can't.'
The Minister was announcing an increase in the penalty periods for those who turn down jobs or do not co-operate fully with Jobcentre Plus staff.
He writes 'from tomorrow there will be clear and escalating levels of penalties.
The BBC's Allegra Stratton tends to have good inside information on the government and its future policies, so the news that a policy of ending the link between benefits and inflation is being considered is to be taken very seriously. UnemployedNet believes that benefits need reconsidering, and set at a level that meets the basic needs of a human being, but this is likely to be higher than the current level.
