Mayor's devolved benefits shake-up

BURNHAM SEEKS CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT CASH IN NEW PLAN

- ETHAN DAVIES

A BIG shake-up of the benefits system is set to come to Greater Manchester.

The mayor wants to take control of government cash used to get people back into work, through a new programme called Live Well. If it gets government approval, it would mean Andy Burnham would control Greater Manchester's portion of the £6bn employment support budget, rather than the Department for Work and Pension (DWP).

Effectively, it would mean the mayor would fund local community and voluntary groups, the NHS, and Job Centres to provide more holistic support for benefits claimants seeking work to get them back into employment, so they're helped by people who know their area -- and the issues in said area -- best.

It's an arrangement which offers potential benefits to both the government and people seeking work.