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Dept for Education and Employment;Employment Service

Answer

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment under what circumstances an Employment Service adviser may use an in-work benefit calculation to encourage a jobseeker to lower his minimum wage as indicated in question 16 of the ES2 form. [17864] Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Robert Horne to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 27 February 1997: The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about the circumstances when an Employment Service Adviser may use an in-work benefit calculation to encourage a jobseeker to lower their minimum wage. All Employment Service (ES) offices provide a structured and coherent advisory and information service which is aimed at helping jobseekers back into work as soon as possible. As part of this service, our advisers provide information about in-work benefits, either at the request of the jobseeker or, where appropriate, as part of New Jobseeker Interviews and Restart Interviews. In relevant circumstances, Advisers also provide jobseekers with personal in-work benefit calculations to show how they can be better off in work, either for a particular job or for a range of wages. The "Helping You Back To Work" (ES2) form is generally used when the jobseeker initially makes a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). In discussing question 16, the adviser determines whether the jobseeker's salary expectation is realistic in the light of opportunities in the labour market. If the expected salary appears unrealistic, then the adviser will make the jobseeker aware of in-work benefits they may be able to claim if they accept a job with a lower wage. I hope this clarifies the position.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

17864; 291 c338W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Applications Benefits rules Jobseeker's allowance Government departments Forms Pay Minimum wage Social security benefits