JobBridge, an internship programme in Ireland* set up to support unemployed people with work experience, is working for its participants and the Exchequer, the Irish Independent has reported. The newspaper has shown that ‘the progression outcomes experienced by participants indicates a high proportion of interns are currently in employment, at approximately 51.4 per cent.’ The article further shows how JobBridge is very successful compared to some other countries whose programmes including internships only show a 34 per cent employment rate.

A report by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said Universal Credit is in danger of failing to deliver on its key objectives. The report says that although Universal Credit will improve some aspects of the benefits system, its ability to lift families out of poverty and remove barriers to working will be severely undermined by the government's wider tax credit and benefit changes - with nine in ten families gaining nothing overall from its introduction.

Claimants with over two months of rent arrears will have their rent directly paid to their landlord, 24dash.com has reported.