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Household Incomes

Answer

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 19 December 2005:"The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what recent assessment has been undertaken of the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the advice given by jobcentres on the effect of household incomes of coming off the unemployment register and engaging in part time work. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.""I am not aware of any such assessment within the past year.""Jobcentre Plus advisors use a networked version of the Departmental Integrated Benefits Information System (IBIS) computer system to help them provide ‘Better-off in work advice to customers. This IT tool provides a comprehensive calculation across the full range of income-based benefits and tax credits. The user either enters the amount of benefit known to be in payment, or lets the system calculate current entitlements based on the information provided by the customer. The system then allows a ‘what if scenario to be entered to compare to the current position, and this will most typically involve a customer's prospective job details. Such events often involve a number of consequential changes such as the addition of travelling expenses and childcare and the IBIS system prompts for all of these to be considered and captured where appropriate.""Once all of the additional information has been entered for the prospective change, the system performs another series of calculations to show estimated entitlements. It also performs a financial comparison between the current actual position and the (typically) in work estimate. This is known as the Better Off calculation and shows a customer exactly how much per week they will gain or loose by taking a particular job.""With regard to accuracy, we take this very seriously and regularly update the IBIS system in line with, for example, changes to benefit rates. When we have investigated cases where the advice may have appeared incorrect, we have generally found this to have been caused either by incorrect or incomplete information being supplied by the customer, or when circumstances have changed between the advice being given and, for example, the take up of a job."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

440 c2451-2W; 34097

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Advisory services Jobcentres Part-time employment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk