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loginTraffic light system for obligations
12 August 2024.
To help you stay on track with your obligations, the Government is introducing a traffic light colour system. The colours will indicate how you're doing in meeting your obligations.
Updated 2 September 2024
The Government has set us a target of '50,000 fewer people on the Jobseeker Support benefit by 2030'.
We're working hard to enable all who can work, into work. This helps to reduce benefit dependency for the next generation. To do this, we've introduced a new traffic light system. There will also be further changes in 2025.
About the traffic light system
When you're on a benefit, there are things you or your partner need to do (your obligations).
Most people who get Supported Living Payment are not in the traffic light system.
The traffic light system lets you know where you're at and what you need to do.
- Green:If you're at green, you're on track and meeting your obligations.
- Orange: You'll move to orange if you don't meet your obligations and you don't have a good reason. This means you need to contact us straight away. If you don't contact us and get back on track within 5 working days, you'll move to red.
- Red: Once you're at red, your benefit will reduce or stop. This means you need to contact us immediately to get back on track.
Your obligations won't change because of this, and the traffic light system only applies if you have work-related and/or social obligations.
We'll send you a letter to let you know if you're at orange or red. From early October, you'll also see in MyMSD what traffic light colour you're at.
Find out who the traffic light system is for and how it works:
What's changing in 2025
Further changes to the traffic light system will come in 2025 and will include:
- If you don't meet your obligations without a good reason for the first, second or third time in 1 year, your benefit will reduce or stop. This is changing from 1 year to 2 years.
- Re-apply for Jobseeker Support every 6 months - If you get Jobseeker Support, you will have to re-apply for this benefit every 6 months.
- Create a Jobseeker profile - If you apply for a benefit with work obligations, you will have to create a Jobseeker profile before your benefit is approved.
- Money Management using payment cards - if you don't meet your obligations, 50% of your benefit could go onto a payment card. You’ll be able to use that payment card at approved stores for essential products and services.
- Community work experience - If you don’t meet your obligations, you may have to do community work experience. This will build your skills and confidence to help you get a job.
Money management using payment cards and community work experience will only apply to some groups in some situations.
For more information visit the Beehive website - Green light for Welfare that Works