A senior officer of the defunct CES proposed a scheme that would have removed a significant number of long termers from the unemployment rolls. The pollies, of course, crapped their pants as benos vote. Quite simple really and would not have cost a lot. Hire a hall, put in a lot of chairs and desks, and tell your local long termers, particularly the recalcitrant and the troublemakers to attend daily 8.30 to 4.30, Monday to Friday, or else. Within a few weeks most would have ceased attending and had their benefit cancelled. Attendance would prevent them running their little cash businesses, their cash in hand jobs, going to auctions to buy stock for the market stall, minding the grand-children whilst mum worked, and so on.
Or do what the Americans do. Unemployment Insurance that has a finite time limit. Payments stop after a given date. Some give 12 months, other states give 24-26 weeks. In 2011 Michigan was in budget stress and cut the maximum period of ue insurance down to 20 weeks from 24. Others permit taking half rate for double the period. When the money cuts out, yanks go to what is called "welfare". This has to be voted for by the local citizens and usually jointly funded by the three tiers of government if voted for. No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord. Many local option polls fail because the locals see a welfare system as attracting undesirables (read ethnic groups).
