Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee

Recommendation 2

2 Acknowledged

Publicly consult on claimant commitment changes, replacing blanket requirements with personalised action plans.

Conclusion
Instead of an internal review, DWP should publicly consult on changes to the claimant commitment. DWP should consider removing blanket requirements, such as the 35-hour job search requirement, and replacing them with a personalised action plan that is co-developed between the claimant and work coach, and relevant to the claimant’s skills and experience. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the new Jobs and Careers Service will provide personalised employment support and will set out what support and advice customers can expect once the service is developed. It is considering a statement of service and will provide more detail on this in a report on delivering the Jobs and Careers Service in spring 2026.
Government Response Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The new Jobs and Careers Service will provide personalised employment support, including increasing the emphasis on employment, skills, and careers support, and helping people into sustainable employment. This includes strengthening links across the employment and careers advice we provide, training work coaches to provide higher quality coaching interactions to customers, exploring the use of digital, telephone and face to face channels as appropriate, and working with local partners and employers on holistic support, training and local employment opportunities. Once the new Jobs and Careers Service is developed, we will set out what support and advice customers can expect from it. Whilst there may not be a guarantee, we are considering a statement of service as part of the flexible, personalised approach we wish to take, adapting to individual customer’s circumstances. More detail on a clear statement of service will be set out in the report on delivering the Jobs and Careers Service in spring 2026.