Reporting local life since 1854 40pThursday, March 29, 2012

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2-FOR-1 ON GREAT DAY TRIPSToken collect Terms applySEE PAGE 20

Unemployed given handouts to spend on new outfits

BY ALEX CAMPBELL AND LUCY ROUEalex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk

THOUSANDS of out-of-work benefitsclaimants are being kitted out with newoutfits and work gear from high streetstores – leaving taxpayers in Staffordshireand Cheshire with a £1.85 million bill.

Claimants who secure interviews orland new jobs can buy clothing worth up to£300 from selected stores and then claimthe costs back from their Jobcentre.

Or job-hunters can be handed vouchersby their local Jobcentre and sent to spe-cific shops.

The Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) has spent more than £1.1 millionbuying clothes for jobseekers in Stafford-shire over the past five years. At least£750,000 has been spent in Cheshire overthe same period.

Almost 19,000 people are currentlyclaiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in NorthStaffordshire and South Cheshire.

Former landscaper Roy Baddeley, whohas been out of work for five years, wasstunned to be reimbursed for the £25 cost ofa new pair of boots by the Jobcentre.

The 47-year-old, of Clayton, said: “I wastold to go out and get myself a pair of boots.I haven’t even worn them yet and they’restill in my shed.

“I think it would be a good idea if youwere offered a job and told you neededsome boots before you could start, but its h o u l d n’t be just willy-nilly.”

Job-seeker Steven Buckley went toMatalan to buy clothes for a job interviewafter being told about the scheme by afriend.

The 25-year-old, who lives at the YMCA,in Hanley, said: “I told the Jobcentre that Ihad an interview coming up and was ableto go to Matalan and get some new worktrousers, shoes and a shirt.

“I felt a lot better going into my inter-view knowing that I looked smart.”

Carly Dale, aged 21, of Hazelhurst Street,Hanley, who has been unemployed sinceSeptember, said: “It will help people to geta job if they have the right clothes and looksmar t.

“I want to do NHS work so being smartwould help my chances.”

The clothing payments are made fromthe Jobcentres’ advisor discretionary fund(ADF), which also covers travel expenses.

The fund paid out £2.5 million inStaffordshire and Cheshire in five years,with about 60 per cent of that on clothes.The ADF has now been replaced by theflexible support fund.

Many of the grants are for functionalitems like work boots, which some firmsinsist on workers having before job offers.

But claimants lining up interviews foroffice roles can claim full outfits, includingsuits, shirts and shoes. Clothes can bebought from a range of stores includingMatalan and Burton.

Staff approving the grants have no wayof checking if the claimant already ownsthe appropriate clothing.

A DWP spokesman said: “Any awardsmade must be appropriate, good value fort a x p aye r s ’ money and ensure the recipientcan move into work sooner than wouldotherwise be possible.”

Have you bought new clothes withJobcentre cash? Email us at letters@thesentinel.co.uk

Looking the part: Page 4

£1.85m COSTOF JOBLESSCLOTHES BILL

DOLING OUT CASH: Hanley Jobcentre.

STRIKE FEARSEES PUMPS

RUNNING DRYSEE PAGE 11

Picture: Neil Hulse

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