Clients are categorised as unemployed, lone parents and sick and disabled labels that do nothing to help people focus on the opportunities and choices that can help them become independent. To increase collaboration between different agencies in order to provide a seamless, efficient and modern service, and to facilitate easier access to a wider range of services in one place. To place work at the heart of the benefits process, and ensure that people are put on the right track from the start, instead of being left to drift into long-term benefit dependency. To treat people as individuals rather than by some pre-determined label, and develop a package of support designed around their particular needs to work with them to plan a pathway to independence. To integrate these changes with the wider Government strategy, building on the success of the New Deals and dove-tailing with other Welfare to Work initiatives, such as the Working Families Tax Credit and the National Minimum Wage.
Clients provide the information needed for their benefit claim only once.
Clients are treated as individuals and are offered a package of support designed around their particular needs to help them focus on the benefits of work and to become more independent. New benefit claimants of working age have their own Personal Adviser, who facilitates access to the range of opportunities and support available. Benefit claimants of working age are expected to participate in interviews with their Personal Adviser. We mean to get the scheme right, before considering implementing it nationally. From April 2000 new claimants will be required to take part in an interview with their Personal Adviser, to discuss work and the help available to them.