Benefits can be made to work

Sir, – The recent proposal by the International Monetary Fund to cut benefits, specifically to men in the UK, is ill considered. The answer is actually to pay more benefits, but targeted with the purpose to bring people back into work.

Most adults over 16 years old and receiving benefits can only work 16 hours without their benefits being cut.

That’s a nonsense and a massive disincentive for people to enter the job market and to better their prospects. It simply encourages the black economy.

No wonder kids sit at home playing games all day and struggle with substance abuse etc.

It’s a huge drag on training, employment and productivity at a time when UK businesses are screaming out for committed staff.

The solution is simple. Anyone who has been claiming benefits for, say, 12 months or more and gets and keeps a job, working more than 24 hours a week, receives their normal employment income plus 50% of their benefits for six months then 25% of the benefits for a further six months on condition that they do not take time off without a sick line. The minute they do, the “contract” ends.

The employer undertakes to provide training, perhaps in conjunction with a local college, and the employee beds in to their new job, learnings skills and a work ethic over the initial 12-month term.

They can only claim this “super benefit”, say, every three years, so there is a huge incentive to stay working with the employer and contribute to the local community.

This would result in a massive inducement to work, with employees receiving a premium wage while training, and would support many businesses struggling to recruit staff.

The cost outcome would perhaps be higher in the short term, but a lot less in the long term, as people value their employment and stay working.

They would also avoid mental and physical health issues associated with “doing nothing”!

Ron Smith. Dundee.