Jobseekers will be given training to gain new skills, but will face having their benefits stopped if they refuse the offer of help, Employment Minister Chris Grayling announced today.

Benefit claimants whose lack of relevant skills is a significant barrier to work will get the support they need to move into work through compulsory training. If they fail to attend or complete the course without good cause, they could lose some or all of their benefits.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said:

"People who are looking for work but are put at a disadvantage by their lack of skills will be given the training they need to improve their prospects of getting a job.

"We want to give people every opportunity to move closer to employment, but those who refuse the offer of help, fail to attend, or don’t finish their course could face sanctions.

"This is part of our new contract with jobseekers – we will give you the right help and support to get you into work and off benefits, but we expect you to play your part."

Skills Minister John Hayes said:

"Having the right skills can make the crucial difference in helping people to get a job and keep it.  Skills providers offer a wide range of high-quality training that can give jobseekers the boost they need. We want to see more people completing their training and taking the first steps on a path to a fulfilling career."

The new rules will apply to people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) and those in the Work-Related Activity Group of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) who need extra support and training before they become job ready.

Jobcentre Plus advisers will assess what type of support each person needs, and refer jobseekers who they judge will benefit from help to a skills training provider, including a Further Education College, or a Next Step adviser. Training will include basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, or work-based training for jobseekers who would benefit from more vocational support.

From next week, six of the biggest mobile phone network companies will no longer charge their customers for calls to DWP 0800 Benefit Claim lines.

Calls to claim benefits and state pension use 0800 numbers, and are already free to customers using BT land lines. But 12 per cent of UK households use only mobile phones.

Calls to around 70 of the DWP 0800 numbers will be free as of 18 January. These numbers are used by people making initial claims for benefit and pensions and to request emergency payments, such as crisis loans.

Dates for the call rate to change vary

The calls will be free from 18 January if your phone is with:

• O2
  
• Orange
  
• Tesco Mobile
  
• Vodafone

The free calls will start as of 25 January if your phone is with:

• T-Mobile
• Virgin Mobile

Together, the six companies with whom the DWP has signed agreements cover over 90 per cent of the UK’s mobile market.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, said: "We don't want people who lose their jobs or the poorest pensioners to be penalised when they need to claim benefits."

Learning for free

Many courses in literacy and numeracy are free, and you may not have to pay for tuition if you’re going for your first qualification equivalent to GCSEs or A levels. There’s a wider range of free courses available if you’re on income-related benefits, and there are opportunities for everyone to learn for free online.