The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published an updated Work Programme prospectus setting out details of the government's flagship welfare to work scheme.

The prospectus contains a broad range of new information about the Work Programme including:

Those over 25 on JSA will still not be referred until they've been unemployed for 12 months. So they will lose 10% of their housing benefit at the same time as going on the programme!

There is a beefed-up role for the Jobcentres, including running "work clubs" and getting people to do voluntary work.
"We will refer customers to the Work Programme contracts for a 5 year period. Providers will then work with customers for up to a further 2 years."

40 contracts of £10 - 50 million each.

The claim that there would be payment only for outcomes was untrue. There's to be an "attachment fee ..... To assist with initial delivery costs." Sounds a bit like on-programme payments. Presumably the providers insisted on this.
"Substantial" performance incentive payments for providers.

There's information about the basis for awarding contracts and price competition. The whole document is well worth studying.

To read the prospectus in full see attached document;