There are some tough changes around the corner for Universal Credit claimants after the Spring Budget.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that sanctions would be applied “more rigorously” as part of the Government's plan to get more people back into work. This means that those who fail to meet new strict work-search requirements or choose not to take up a reasonable job offer are likely to be sanctioned - which means they will have their benefits reduced in the short term.
If you claim Universal Credit to top up your wages and you work 15 hours a week or less, you could have to work more hours to keep your Universal Credit under the new regime. This means that more than 100,000 Universal Credit claimants who currently work 15 hours per week will have to step up their hours or face having their benefits cut. The lifting of the Administrative Earnings Threshold from 15 to 18 hours per week means that that anyone currently working fewer than 18 hours will have to meet with DWP job coaches to find more work or risk having their Universal Credit cut.
