BRITS will be tracked and face losing their benefits if they break rules, the government has warned.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said benefits claimants who “choose to coast” could have their hand-outs taken away.
1
Digital tools will now track claimants’ attendance at job fairs and interviews as part of the beefed-up regime.
People who should be looking for work but aren’t could lose their benefits after six months.
They also stand to miss out on extra benefits like free prescriptions and legal aid.
The tough new plan comes ahead of next Wednesday’s Autumn Statement.
Read More Money
Mr Hunt said: “We’re serious about growing our economy.
“That means we must address the rise in people who aren’t looking for work – especially because we know so many of them want to.
“With almost a million vacancies in the jobs market the opportunities are there.
“These changes mean there’s help and support for everyone – but for those who refuse it, there are consequences too.
Most read in Money
“Anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers will lose their benefits.”
But Vicki Nash from mental health charity Mind said: “The increase in the use of sanctions is deeply worrying.
“Evidence has repeatedly shown they don’t work and make people’s mental health worse.
“Poverty and mental health problems form a vicious cycle that need to be tackled by every part of government working together.
“Today’s announcements look like they have come from departments working on different planets.”
‘WORK IS GOOD’
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride says:
Work is good. It pays the bills, improves health and grows the economy – so we’re all better off.
And it also means we can support those who can’t work, as any compassionate society should.
Sun readers understand this, and they know fairness should be at the heart of our welfare system.
It’s my job to make sure we never lose sight of that. And that’s why we need to make some changes.
Because too many people are failing to keep to their side of the bargain.
Over 130,000 sanctions were made in the last quarter – the majority for people skipping jobcentre appointments or interview without good reason.
That’s just not on, and we won’t stand for it.
So when we’ve helped people towards work through intensive job centre support, we’ll expect them to take up work or other intensive activity to get them into a job.
And we’ll track attendance at jobs fairs and interviews, and close benefits claims after six months when someone’s not playing ball.
We’re committed to supporting everyone who needs our welfare safety net. We are also focused on helping those who can do so to improve their lives – you’ll hear more about that at the Autumn Statement.
But we will not turn away from our responsibility to the taxpayer to make sure genuine fairness is at the heart of the welfare system.
