HOUSEHOLDS on Universal Credit would have to attend an intensive two week programme to try and get them back into work, under government plans.
The plans would impact people on the benefit who have been unemployed for more than three months.
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Currently, those on Universal Credit looking for work usually meet work coaches once a week for the first three months, then every two weeks after this point.
But the plans would see this change to an intense course of daily meetings over a two-week period, The Times reports.
Those who refused to attend the meetings would be faced with losing their entire standard allowance – £334.91 a month – for up to three months.
The programme is already being trialled in four parts of the UK – Crawley in Sussex, Pontefract in Yorkshire, Partick in Glasgow, and Coalville in Leicestershire.
Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, has written letters to MPs in each area.
He said: “Evidence shows that the longer a person is out of work the harder it is for them to return, and it is at this 13-week point that a claimant’s likelihood of securing employment begins to decrease.”
Mr Stride said certain people on Universal Credit were exempt from the programme.
This includes those who are awaiting work-capability assessments, those required to do less than 35 hours a week of work search activity and those already exempt from searching for jobs.
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It’s not yet clear whether the programme will be rolled out nationwide following the current trial.
A DWP spokesperson told The Sun: “We are always looking at new and innovative ways to support people with different needs to find and succeed in employment.
“In the first half of 2022 we supported half a million benefit claimants into work and our recent changes to Universal Credit will build on this by providing hundreds of thousands more with intensive support to get better-paid work and boost long-term prospects.”
It comes after the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) was increased by the government.
The change means 120,000 people will have to do more to look or prepare for work if they want to carry on receiving help.
What help can I get if I’m on Universal Credit?
The government has announced millions of households will get a £900 cost of living payment over the next two years, including those on Universal Credit.
The payment is going to be split into three instalments of £301, £300 and £299.
You don’t have to apply for the payments as they will be made automatically into accounts.
There’s a number of freebies you can get if you are on Universal Credit too.
This includes free or cheap broadband, free school meals, council tax discounts and cold weather payments.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
