The Telegraph has reported that Employment Minister Esther McVey has announced that benefits claimants will undergo psychological tests to determine whether they have “psychological resistance” to work. The attitude profiling will determine whether the claimant is “determined”, “bewildered” or “despondent” about taking a job, with those less mentally prepared for life at work receiving more intense job support at Jobcentres.
The scheme will aim to offer more tailor-made support to jobseekers and is modelled after the Australian segmentation model. A pilot is currently underway in three Jobcentres, with an expansion to 27 cities covering 27,000 claimants, if successful. The scheme is also likely to be used to determine participants eligible for the Work Programme.
