Yesterday the Secretary for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, introduced the Green Paper on Welfare Reform “No One Written Off”. The contents were previewed at the DWP’s Annual Conference and highlighted what people can do rather than what they cannot do. Ministers talked about enabling the individual and an emphasis on employment was central.
“The Green Paper focuses on the ‘three C’s; capability, contribution and control. It has a focus on the individual, on their ability to work, their contribution to the world of work and the personal responsibility they have for their own lives.”
“Work is good for people’s health, it has a transforming effect on both their skills and self esteem” according to Stephen Timms MP.
A message echoed both at the annual conference and at a seminar held yesterday on an internal review on Housing Benefit. Generally there was a very positive energy about Welfare Reform on both occasions.
Numerous interpretations of the Green Paper have been reported causing confusion and anger over its implications. The Times headlined their story ‘Work-for-dole will force the benefit cheats to start earning their keep’, whilst other online media focus on the move away from outdated benefits Welfare shakeup to scrap incapacity benefit. In The Independent Johann Hari describes how the safely net of benefits should infact be a trampoline. Based on the personal experience of a friend he describes how the current benefits system ‘keeps people in a rut’ and this ‘inactivity is infectious, you become convinced you can’t do anything’
Whatever way you interpret it, the Green Paper is themed around deterrence. James Purnell justified the tough sanctions as a way to deter people from work in the informal economy by filling their time up with community jobs they will have no opportunity to work on the side. The new Welfare System seems to be targeting people who work to earn a little bit of money as a way to lift themselves out of poverty.
