McNulty - we will not give up on the unemployed

HELP, support and advice will continue to be available for everyone who loses their job in the current global recession, pledged Employment Minister Tony McNulty.

New figures from the UK Statistics Authority show another rise in unemployment as the scale of the redundancies made at the turn of the year starts to become evident.

Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform Tony McNulty said:- "These latest figures show the human impact of the global recession. No matter how hard times get, we will not give up on anyone who loses their job and will continue to provide real help to everyone who needs it.  Even with the fall in labour demand that we are currently experiencing, we need to remember that 3/4's of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance leave it within 6 months, and 250,000 people left the claimant count in February.

We are investing £2bn to ensure Jobcentre Plus can continue to offer all its customers a first class service and next month people who have been claiming for 6 months will be able to access the enhanced package of support which we announced in January."

Jobcentre Plus offers a range of early help to people who lose their jobs - such as CV writing, carrying out job searches and advice on claiming benefits. This includes people who have been in a stable job for many years, or those from professional or executive backgrounds who need help to start looking for a new job.   Jobcentre Plus can also help employers and employees through its Rapid Response Service, which offers immediate support early on - even before someone becomes redundant. One thousand employers have used this support since the service was expanded in November last year.

In early April the enhanced 6 month offer will be available to jobseekers. Employers will have access to up to £2500 of funding in both a wage subsidy and towards training and there will be more support for people who want to become self-employed, take part in a volunteering scheme or other training.  More support to help people with their mortgage payments became available in January for those who have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for 13 weeks.

Even though volumes are rising, Jobcentre Plus is coping well with the increase in demand for its services. 6,000 more front line staff are being recruited and advisers are on top of their targets, conducting around 45,000 interviews and taking 60,000 phone calls every working day.

Cash boost for 20,000 blind people

20,000 severely visually impaired people will be entitled to receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced in the House of Commons on 17 March 2009.

From 2011, the real help will support 20,000 severely visually impaired people with additional mobility costs, allowing them greater freedom to get out and about, either socially or to find work. At current rates this will mean an additional payment worth £29 a week to those who qualify (£1,508 per year).

James Purnell said:- "This additional money could make a real difference helping people to go out to find a job, for instance having the extra cash to pay for a taxi to a job interview. Whether it is assistance getting out and about socially or to find work, ultimately it will transform the lives of severely visually impaired people and their families.

The Government has always been supportive of this change so we are delighted that we have been able to include it in our Welfare Reform Bill.

We are fully committed to making this change happen which will make a real difference to the lives of severely visually impaired people across Great Britain."

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, said:- "I know many severely visually impaired people have been waiting to hear this good news and will be very happy with the outcome. The Government has been working closely with the RNIB to make this possible so I'd like to especially thank them for all their support."

The Welfare Reform Bill builds on the White Paper, Raising Expectations and Increasing Support, which was published in December. The Bill will provide the additional powers to ensure that people make use of the help made available to them and maximise their employment prospects for the future.

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