The proposed benefit reforms put me in mind of a doomed ship heading for the rocks, on the bridge the wheel is spinning, intercoms are buzzing, levers are being pulled, but the bridge is disconnected from the rest of the ship. If, as I understand, the Government is placing its faith in the existing staff of employment offices to exercise their judgement as to whom should lose out: forget it. Little Miss Molly is never going to take responsibility for stopping Bert Gutbusting’s benefit, not in a month of Sundays. Little Miss Molly may be prepared to face Bert’s anger, and that of his kinfolk, despite living in the same town, but is she able to swim against the long established culture of the service?
To have a prayer of making the scheme work, the Government has to change the culture of the employment service at the coalface and, even then, it will be necessary to employ hard-nosed specialists to confront Bert and sort him out.
A second problem lies in the notion that benefits will be threatened for those who refuse job offers. Who thought that one up? Over forty years ago I was recruiting workers for a Manchester manufacturing company. We had restructured the shift system and needed a number of workers. I still remember the bloke who made not the slightest pretence of wanting a job. “Just sign the form, will you boss? That shows I’ve attended.” I signed because we clearly didn’t want him near the factory, but I telephoned the employment office to report him. I know not what action they took, if any. Other less bold souls took the job, but their employment did not last more than a few weeks. It is not the employer’s role to keep deadbeats off the street, or to act as a policeman for the service.
Finally, I wonder whose nerve will break first when Bert’s kids are found begging in the street.
Boadicea's Chariot 
I agree with you it is never going to happen in the UK.
Interestingly here you can’t even get unemployment unless you go to the unemployment centre and apply for jobs and attend seminars at least one day a week. Far more hoops to jump through to even get on the rolls. You have to do that every week or are automatically barred for that time period. So the 9.5% unemployment here as measured by the benefit recipients is probably more like 12-14%, many do not bother, it is a serious effort to get any money, but far higher than in the UK if you can jump through the correct hoops. If they find you a job and you do not take it, automatic disbarring for benefits for months. Many white collar workers get to shovel burgers for a while!
And quite right too – when I was unemployed after leaving the colours I worked as a security guard and a shelf-stacker in a supermarket while I was looking for a more suitable job. (Then I wangled myself onto a ‘training’ scheme – finished up working in a day-care centre for mentally-handicapped people. I think I’ve told the tale?)
Christina, pity we don’t do the same here.
I read about a guy who turned up at an interview dressed as a duck. (true) they gave him the job because he tried so hard not to get employed. what happened after I don’t know.
But as you say Tom, I get people phone up asking to “register” with us, we are specialist high end head hunters so we have no interest, but they say “if we come along we get our beneit so can we come” NO YOU CAN’T SO SOD OFF
The main question about this ship is ‘where the hell are the lifeboats?’
Maybe employment office staff should get a nice bonus for every person they kick off benefit.