Jobseekers' reservist rules changed
Jobseeker's Allowance rules will be changed to "better support" unemployed claimants who want to serve their country in the reserve forces, the Government has announced.Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the Commons that the JSA regulations would be altered from next month to enable claimants, who are in the military reserve, to attend their required two week annual training camp without having to terminate their claim.
Previously unemployed people who were members of the reserve forces had to stop their claim for Jobseeker's Allowance to attend the yearly training camp.
As they are paid for this training their benefit payments would be stopped and they would need to make a new claim at the end of their training and wait while it was processed to receive their money.
Mr Duncan Smith told MPs: "Today I am announcing the department's plans to better support Jobseeker's Allowance claimants who are members of Her Majesty's reserve forces.
"We plan to amend the JSA regulations with effect from next month so that claimants who are in the military reserve can attend their required 15-day annual training camp without having to terminate their claim.
"This will mean Jobcentre Plus can actively encourage claimants to join the Territorial Army without facing unnecessary and burdensome administration difficulties."
Under the new system reservists will receive a nominal payment of 10p in order to ensure their entitlement remains open.
In a statement, he added: "The reserve forces play a crucial role in maintaining the safety of our country. It is absurd that our system should make life harder for them to do their bit.
"That is why today I am removing the benefit bureaucracy reservists face to attend events such as their annual training."
"We plan to amend the JSA regulations with effect from next month so that claimants who are in the military reserve can attend their required 15-day annual training camp without having to terminate their claim.
"This will mean Jobcentre Plus can actively encourage claimants to join the Territorial Army without facing unnecessary and burdensome administration difficulties."
Under the new system reservists will receive a nominal payment of 10p in order to ensure their entitlement remains open.
In a statement, he added: "The reserve forces play a crucial role in maintaining the safety of our country. It is absurd that our system should make life harder for them to do their bit.
"That is why today I am removing the benefit bureaucracy reservists face to attend events such as their annual training."
© 2013 Press Association