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."
