The Work and Pensions Committee has launched an inquiry into the future of Jobcentre Plus (JCP), the public employment service arm of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Changes affecting Jobcentre Plus services
A number of important changes will affect the services offered by JCP over the next few years, including:
- The full implementation of Universal Credit (UC), which, particularly once a fully-functioning digital service is developed, will be a largely online process and have implications for digital inclusion
- More frequent interviews at the Jobcentre for unemployed claimants in the early stages of benefit claims
- Delayed referral of long-term unemployed claimants to externally-contracted employment services (welfare-to-work) providers, meaning that JCP will support people who remain out of work for two years
- The development of a support offer for UC claimants who are in work but on very low incomes
- Plans for greater co-location of JCP offices with other local services…
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