Government Reforms on Welfare.

Since Labour won power this year they stated they wanted to reform the current welfare system. The current welfare system known as 'Universal Credit' was a good idea on paper, however, it is failing in many aspects. Therefore, Liz Kendall the Minister for the Dept of Work and Pensions (DWP) has said she will shake up the current system.

A new bill will be set before parliament that if approved will seek to tackle the link between ill health and joblessness. Much unemployment or the much-used term 'economic inactivity' is linked to ill health whether that be mental or physical or both. As part of the 20 NHS trusts with the highest level of economic inactivity (the unemployed) will be given an extra capacity to reduce waiting lists. In other words, if those with outstanding illnesses can be seen quicker, then in theory, they should be able to return to work.

Liz Kendal says she wants to tackle and "Target the root causes of unemployment and inactivity and firm up health skills and employment support on the unique needs of local communities". Fixing the NHS to a standard where health conditions are affecting people's abilities to work must be addressed. This is the government's package of policies that will in their eyes, fix the NHS and get the economically inactive (I hate those words) being given a living. The ability to sustain themselves with support from both companies and the government to keep their jobs.

Another government statement reads thus: "Overhaul the health and disability benefits system so it better supports people to enter and remain in work to tackle the spiralling benefits bill". It's all about the economy and getting the UK growing again don't you know! Ms. Kendall added: "To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working again".

In a materialistic, consumer-led society, it is understandable why Ms. Kendall would say this. If people can be shown that working is worth it, they will be supported and not have to depend on the state for money, then it makes sense. Many do want to work but under the current system of jobcentres, many do not feel they are given the encouragement and support to find that job. Hence Kendall wants to enact these measures that overhaul both the health service and the job centre. However, reducing people out of work to just "Economic inactivity" reduces the humanity of people. Like they are just things like cogs in a giant machine to get the powerhouse of Britain's economic machinery working at full power. But reduced to the true meaning of these words that is exactly what it means.

Ms. Kendal promises that job centres will no longer be the places of fear they are now. Instead, the name Job Centre will be replaced with the moniker "National Jobs and Careers Service". Let us hope that what Liz says becomes true where people will find more help and support to get the jobs they want. Where a new system meets the needs of claimants and finds them the jobs they want. Where people will encouraged to study and given help to get into the career they want. With career help and health help, it sounds like the ideal scenario.

The government says it wants to get away from the "old tick box system". However, one remembers when the current system of universal credit was brought in. This was supposed to be the perfect system to end all perfect systems. However, as time has proved, this current system looked great on paper but proved to be otherwise in actuality.