99% respond to work testing sanctions

The Herald reports:

Almost 13,000 parents with dependent children have had their benefits cut for failing work tests in the first 2 years after sole parents first had to look for work.

Data released to the Child Poverty Action Group under the Official Information Act shows 1310 parents had benefits cut for failing work tests in the first three months after sole parents with children aged 6 and over were required to look for part-time work from September 2010. A further 5,074 parents’ benefits were suspended or cancelled for failing work tests in 2011 and 6,418 last year.

Most parents then met their obligations quickly enough to have their benefits restored, but 157 had benefits formally suspended or cancelled in the first three months of the new regime.

So 13,000 initially were sanctioned for not being available for work etc, but only 157 of them didn’t end up being work ready and seeking work. I call that a huge success.