JOBSEEKERS in Oxfordshire are to be given an ultimatum either attend a compulsory course in moving from welfare to work, or lose your benefit.

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said that the Jobseekers Mandatory Activity (JMA) programme was the first course to present jobseekers with an ultimatum: attend or lose money.

Oxfordshire has been chosen as one of ten areas to pilot the programme, which targets anyone over 25 who has been claiming benefit for six months or more. It requires jobseekers to attend a three-day, intensive work-focused course run by providers contracted by Jobcentre Plus.

The Oxfordshire pilot will operate for two years beginning this week.

The spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions in the South East said: "Participation in the Jobseekers Mandatory Activity programme is compulsory. If someone fails to attend, they will be sanctioned one week's Jobseekers Allowance. If they fail to attend any of the follow-up interviews, they will also lose a week's Jobseekers Allowance."

Each jobseeker will leave the course with an action plan. Jobcentre Plus Advisers will then provide three fortnightly interviews, building on the action plan and job search skills.

Areas the course will cover include confidence building and motivation; examination of job aspirations; identification of strengths and skills; identification of barriers to work and how these may be overcome; and identification of any training needs.