Sanctions are tougher for young people

Sanctions imposed on jobseekers who are believed not to be trying hard enough to look for work, tend to be tougher on young people.

Ministers introduced the tougher sanctions to encourage people back into work, but charities have warned it is increasing levels of poverty and distress among young people.

YMCA England said it had serious concerns about the way the sanctions had been communicated to jobseekers; how they are being administered by Jobcentre Plus; and the negative impact it is having on young people’s physical, mental and economic wellbeing.

Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England, said: "Rather than motivating vulnerable young people to find employment, receiving a sanction can hinder their ability to prepare and look for work, making the prospect of them getting off benefits a more distant reality."

The Child Poverty Action Group said the rise in the use of sanctions was creating a "Kafkaesque nightmare" that is resulting in more people being forced to use food banks because of financial hardship.

Under the sanctions regime, JSA claimants can have their benefit suspended for between four and 13 weeks for lower and intermediate level failings, and from 13 weeks to three years for higher level failings.

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1140301/young-people-brunt-tougher-jobseeker-sanctions

Meanwhile Iain Duncan Smith does not believe any of this and thinks the Trussell Trust who are setting up more foodbanks are just scaremongering. HERE

As one young person said to me: "If you don`t have your bus ticket, they won`t give you the transport costs. That means you walk there, and have to walk back again, as well as walking to foodbanks. It`s exhausting. It`s a catch 22."