“People want to work and need effective support to help them get a job.”

On the day that the Government’s new Help to Work scheme comes into force Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“People want to work and need effective support to help them get a job. Whether after two weeks or two years of unemployment any work scheme needs to take into account people’s situations, the barriers they face, and set suitable work search requirements. Whilst it is vital that people receiving taxpayers’ support do their utmost to find work, the model needs to help them into employment rather than make it harder for them to find a job.

"Long term unemployment is a very tough challenge to overcome and it is vitally important there is suitable support in place for jobseekers who are struggling to find work. However there is a risk that the extra requirements placed on people could push them further away from work and lead to cases of inappropriate sanctioning. Many of our clients find it hard to pay the transport costs to get to Jobcentre interviews so daily visits could simply be unaffordable.

"Citizens Advice Bureaux have seen a 60% increase in clients with JSA sanction problems since the extension of the minimum sanction period from one week to four in October 2012. A four week sanction can put people in an impossible position where the struggle to put food on the table is a distraction from looking for work.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.