I'd not heard about this, but the whole putting added pressure on the unemployed in order to somehow convince them that getting a job would be a good idea is just ridiculous. Yes there are SOME people who will happily sign on, whilst earning off the book, and living quite well, but for the most part people are desperate to climb out of their situation. The idea you outline put me in mind of Compulsory income management in Australia. Indigenous Australians treated like shit, not welcome in a lot of work places, turn to drink because life is so crap, and then get told the government are going to give you food vouchers instead of money.