targets

Whistleblower tells of sanctions targets as IDS sticks head in sand

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was faced with more accusations of sanction targets when he was questioned by MPs yesterday.

Appearing before the work and pensions select committee, Smith denied that sanction targets existed, despite being presented with evidence to the contrary.

This evidence included the testimony of a whistleblower who spoke to the committee on the same day, a former jobcentre worker from Manchester.

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Unemployment

unemployed

sanction

IDS

DWP

government

targets

Government's youth contract failing to hit targets

In response to youth unemployment hitting one million people last year, the government launched its youth contract, which offered businesses a subsidy of up to £2,275 for employing an under-25 year old who had been out of work for at least six months.

It was designed to help around 53,000 people each year, but figures released yesterday showed fewer than 4,700 were still in work after six months.

More had started work: 21,000 have found a way into the workplace, suggesting that many are struggling to keep their jobs.

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Jobcentre sanctions targets – DWP admits mistakes

An internal report by the Department of Work and Pensions has found that unapproved targets for benefit sanctions have been implemented in a number of locations, potentially leading to the unreasonable removal of benefits from jobseekers.

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