Last week's budget announcement from Jeremy Hunt placed a large emphasis on benefits and trying to encourage people back into work.
Dubbed the 'Back to Work Budget', Mr Hunt announced some major reforms to the benefits system, including the scrapping of the hugely controversial Work Capability Assessment, which has been used to determine whether people are fit to work or qualify for disability benefits.
While this move was welcomed by campaigners, concerns were raised about another measure announced by Mr Hunt - a new crackdown on Universal Credit claimants, with harsh punishments for those who fail to abide by the measures.
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Mr Hunt said the government will place tough new rules on those who fail to meet strict work-search requirements and on those who fail to take up reasonable offers of work.
The move will also see Job Centre staff given extra training to "ensure they are applying sanctions effectively". Mr Hunt said "sanctions will be applied more rigorously", meaning more people could be punished under the scheme.
Sanctions are effectively punishments that can be handed out to benefits claimants if they are deemed not to have acted within the rules set out by the Department of Work and Pensions. A sanction can result in payments being stopped for a set period.
In his speech last week, Mr Hunt told MPs: "With Zoom, Teams and new working models that make it easier to work from home, this is more possible than ever before. So for that reason, the ever-diligent Work and Pensions Secretary today takes the next step in his groundbreaking work on tackling economic inactivity. I thank him for that, and today we publish a White Paper on disability benefits reform. It is the biggest change to our welfare system in a decade."
Some campaign groups are deeply concerned about a move to tighten sanctions for benefits claimants. Peter Kelly, director of Poverty Alliance said: "“People in the UK believe in justice and compassion but today’s Budget will strike fear into the hearts of millions. The Chancellor’s decision to widen the callous and ineffective sanctions regime is completely wrong."
"Our unjust economy simply doesn’t offer people the kind of secure, suitable employment that they need, and too many people simply can’t increase their working hours because of poor transport links, health and disability issues, caring commitments, or lack of affordable childcare."
He added: "“Interviews at the Job Centre won’t solve the issues that prevent people from entering employment and increasing their working hours. We strongly oppose any extension of sanctions – they only create more poverty and do nothing to help people into employment.”
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