Letter to the Guardian, ref: Benefits for unemployed graduates on internships

Dear Sir,

Re: Benefits for unemployed graduates on internships  

So unemployed graduates will be offered the chance to improve their employability through internships, while not losing their benefits. Good for them and for their future prospects in a “tight jobs market”. Meanwhile though, back in the family home, 300,000 single parents moving onto jobseeker’s allowance, as part of the government’s welfare reform agenda, will be denied similar opportunities. Many of these family breadwinners are desperate to re-train and find reasonably paid, secure employment for the sake of their children.

Is this employability-enhancing scheme only available to graduates? Under current benefits legislation, a single parent on jobseeker’s allowance cannot take part in full-time education at a local college without losing their benefits. It is impossible for most to take the next step into higher education and obtain a degree. 

Instead, under the Government’s new, “carrots for some, sticks for others” approach, single parents face seeing their benefits cut if they don’t get ready to battle for those low-skilled, minimum wage jobs with enough alacrity.