A key change to Universal Credit affecting 600,000 claimants has been announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as he delivered his autumn statement. Mr Hunt confirmed hundreds of thousands more people receiving the benefit will be asked to meet with a dedicated "work coach" to help them increase their employment hours or earnings.
Addressing the Commons this morning (November 17), he said Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride will review "issues holding back workforce participation", which will conclude early in the new year. The chancellor said he also wanted to help people already in work to raise their incomes, progress in employment and become financially independent.
Mr Hunt continued: "That is why we will ask over 600,000 more people on Universal Credit to meet with a work coach so that they can get the support they need to increase their hours or earnings." He said he would also "move back the managed transition of people from employment and support allowance on to Universal Credit to 2028."
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The chancellor added he will invest an extra £280 million in the Department for Work and Pensions to "crackdown" on benefit fraud and error over the next two years. The government’s review of the state pension age is expected to be be published in early 2023.
Currently, people who get universal credit and are able to work are given a work coach to help them find a job and provide them with individual support depending on their needs. Mr Hunt's announcement is aimed at people in-work, supporting them to progress and earn more.
People took to Twitter to react to the news. Ava-Santina pointed out: "Reminder that 41% of people on Universal Credit are *also in paid work*."
@Dr_KatyJones wrote: "Wow! 600K more people on Universal Credit will need to meet with their Work Coach w/emphasis on increase hours (up from 120K more in mini budget)."
@bevelynnparker commented: "I love the fact that people on universal credit are getting a work coach to see if they can work more hours. These are usually the people on minimum wage who already work long hours just to make ends meet. Disgraceful!"
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