Jobcentres are investigating benefit claimants' needs in a "haphazard" way, missing crucial information about barriers to work, MPs have said.

The work and pensions committee urged the government to provide incentives for Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to get people into work, not just off benefits. Chairwoman Dame Anne Begg warned that the network could be "hitting its targets but missing the point". Ministers said the system was working, citing the recent fall in unemployment.

'Drug dependency'

But Labour's Dame Anne said: "JCP's performance is currently measured primarily by the proportion of claimants leaving benefit by specific points in their claims. "This takes no account of whether they are leaving benefit to start a job or for less positive reasons, including being sanctioned or simply transferring to another benefit. "We believe this risks JCP hitting its targets but missing the point. JCP must be very clearly incentivised to get people into work, not just off benefits.......Read more Here