The Government has been urged to improve how it tracks the performance of Jobcentres after an official report found that, in many cases, no reason was given for someone moving off employment-related benefits.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had simplified its performance measures by showing how many claimants moved off benefits.
Its report said no information was given about how individual Jobcentres performed in supporting claimants into a job, adding: “Some may have found work but in 40% of cases the reason for moving off benefits is not recorded.
“Claimants may have moved on to other benefits, been imprisoned or ceased claiming without taking up work.”
A separate survey carried out by the DWP estimated that 68% of claimants left benefits for work.
The NAO said Jobcentres had coped well in the face of the economic downturn, which saw a huge increase in the number of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
