Welcome to the May edition of in touch

Each month, in touch keeps you up to date with the latest news from Jobcentre Plus.

This edition includes the latest information on our performance in processing benefit claims and how our customers are getting a faster service, as well as important information on the availability of UK disability benefits in the European Economic Area.

There's also news of the completed roll out of the Pathways to Work programme, and information on the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and the work it will be doing.

And finally, we're keen to know what you think of in touch, so we've developed a short online survey, which will be open for the next month.  Please take the time to complete it if you can, as your views are really important to us.

Latest news

Update on Jobcentre Plus performance 

In April 2006 we introduced a performance target called Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) as a way of measuring how long it took us to process people's benefits.

In the year prior to introducing the target, the average processing time for Jobseeker’s Allowance stood at 14.5 days. It now stands at 10.6 days, which means customers are receiving their benefits faster than ever before.

Both Income Support and Incapacity Benefit show similar improvements. The latest (2007/8 full year) figures show that Income Support now stands at 9.2 days compared with 11.3 days previously, and Incapacity Benefit is currently 13.1 days compared with 16.3 days.

This significant improvement to our services makes a real difference to people's lives at a crucial time.

Disability Benefits in European Economic Area

Last October, the European Court of Justice decided that certain UK disability benefits are now to be considered sickness benefits.  This means that they will be paid to some people who leave the UK to live in another European Economic Area (EEA) state or Switzerland.  The decision affects Disability Living Allowance (care component), Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.

DWP is continuing discussions with the European Commission on eligibility conditions for people who are already living in another EEA country or Switzerland who wish to claim from abroad.  More information can be found on the Directgov website.

Think small, says LEP campaign

In May Jobcentre Plus will launch a coordinated campaign to urge small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to join Local Employment Partnerships (LEP), a partnership scheme between Government and business to tackle the increasing recruitment and skills challenges in today's labour market.

Initially the main focus of these partnerships was on working with large national employers, each with hundreds of jobs on offer. But LEPs can benefit any business of any size, in any sector, that's looking to recruit, by offering a much wider choice of job ready potential recruits. Crucially, from the smaller employer's perspective, there's no red tape involved and no risk attached.

From a jobseekers' point of view, it's very good news that LEPs will increasingly encourage their local smaller employers to recruit people, including long-term unemployed and disabled people, who they would previously not have considered. This in turn creates new local skills training and job opportunities that would otherwise simply not have existed.

The campaign, which will have a local and regional focus, will include direct mail, advertising, public relations activity and direct engagement with employers. For more information about LEPs and how they can help jobseekers, employers and local communities, visit the Jobcentre Plus employer website.

In focus

Completion of Pathways to Work national roll out

Pathways to Work is now available throughout England, Scotland and Wales, following the successful go live of the second phase of provider-led areas on 28 April.

Pathways gives extra support to people with health problems and disabilities to help them find work or move closer to being ready to consider taking a job. It has already helped nearly 70,000 people to move into work.

Any customer making a new or repeat claim for Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support on the grounds of incapacity now has access to this extra help.

It is also available to existing customers who receive these benefits and who volunteer to take part. This means that all 2.5 million people on these benefits can now take advantage of Pathways to Work.

Offering the service throughout Britain is a major step forward in the Government's Welfare Reform Programme because Pathways will be one of the cornerstones of the Employment and Support Allowance regime when it is introduced later this year.

For further information visit the Jobcentre Plus - Pathways to Work Internet site.

Stakeholder news

A round-up of business information for stakeholders

Jobcentre Plus sets up dedicated Olympic recruitment team

Jobcentre Plus signed an agreement with the Olympic Delivery Authority in December 2007 that positions us as a key recruitment partner. As a result the new 'London 2012 Recruitment Team' is now in place.

The team has lead responsibility for the distribution of Olympic Games and Paralympic Games vacancies, including the matching and screening of candidates. Details of job opportunities can be obtained from the London 2012 job coordination unit on 08457 1552012.  Customers can also look for jobs using the Jobcentre Plus website.

To date there are already 2,488 workers on the Olympic site, ten per cent of whom were previously unemployed. 469 of these workers live within the five Host Boroughs, 21 per cent of whom were previously unemployed.

Customer news

A round up of information of interest to those advising customers

Child Maintenance Redesign

Following Sir David Henshaw's 2006 report recommending that the system for child maintenance be redesigned, the Government responded with a White Paper recognising the need for a radical overhaul of the current system, to support its commitment to reducing Child Poverty.  The new system aims to be simpler, less bureaucratic and more cost effective.  Achieving this will ensure more maintenance flows to families, helping to lift more children out of poverty.

A new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will be established during 2008 which will take over the responsibilities of the Child Support Agency (CSA).

The Commission will operate two delivery arms.  It will take over the running of the two current statutory maintenance schemes, which will continue to be known as the CSA.  It will also introduce a new service - Child Maintenance Options - which will provide parents with high quality, impartial information enabling them to make informed choices about the maintenance arrangements most suited to their families.  

A key focus will be to encourage parents to make their own, voluntary maintenance agreements wherever possible.  The statutory maintenance service will continue to support those who need more help to put an arrangement in place.

Find out more information about the changes online

In touch online survey

We're really interested to have your views on in touch - how you use it, how useful it is in keeping you updated on Jobcentre Plus news, and what you think of the subjects it features. 

So we've set up a short online questionnaire that we'd like you to complete.  It should only take a few minutes of your time, and all of the information will help us improve future editions on in touch.  Don't forget, you can also email the editor if you have any other comments or questions.

Look out for June's edition of Touchbase

The June issue of Touchbase - DWP’s news magazine for stakeholders - will include a four page feature on tackling child poverty through work and welfare reform.  It will look at how personalised advice, Local Employment Partnerships and support programmes such as Pathways to Work are already helping people with barriers to work improve quality of life for themselves and their families.

Touchbase will be available from early June, and can be viewed online (along with previous editions) at the DWP website. At the site, you can also subscribe to receive future editions automatically.

About in touch

in touch aims to provide you with short summaries of the latest news, progress of our modernisation programme, forthcoming changes to benefit rules, updates on performance, as well as news on important policy issues which affect our shared customers.  in touch complements Touchbase, the quarterly publication from DWP, by providing a monthly focus on Jobcentre Plus related issues.

If someone you know might like to receive in touch, they can subscribe online. Jobcentre Plus will not pass on any details to a third party. Your information will only be used to provide you with information on Jobcentre Plus and DWP business.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please email the editor (including your name, job and organisation). And if you no longer wish to receive in touch then you'll find a link to unsubscribe below.