Thousands more Universal Credit claimants will be pressured into finding work or taking on more hours under new changes coming in next month.
Roughly 114,000 people will be moved from the "light touch" work group to "intensive work search" due to a planned increase in the Administration Earnings Threshold (AET).
The AET determines which "work group" you’re placed in - this then has an impact on if you’re required to look for more work.
The rate is being increased from £355 a month to £494 a month, or from £567 a month to £782 a month for joint claims, from September 26.
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If your income is above these rates, you will be in the "light touch" work group - this means you’re not required to look for work and have less contact with the JobCentre.
But if you earn below these amounts, you will be in the "intensive work search" and will have more commitments to fulfil to keep your benefits.
If you are in this group, you will be given a number of hours that you are expected to take part in work search activities each week.
How many hours that is will depend on your circumstances, including childcare commitments and any health conditions.
You can check your claimant commitment to see how many hours you are expected to look for work.
Any mandatory commitments that you fail to take part in - without good reason - could lead to sanction and your benefits stopped.
Those affected by the change will be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The new AET is the equivalent of an individual working 12 hours per week, or a couple working 19 hours per week between them, the Government said.
Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the new approach will "help claimants get quickly back into the world of work while helping ensure employers get the people they and the economy needs".
She added: "Helping people get any job now, means they can get a better job and progress into a career.
"Way to Work is a step change in our offer to claimants and employers, making sure our JobCentre network and excellent work coaches can deliver opportunities, jobs and prosperity to all areas of the country."
Some of the work activities that you might be asked to take part in include:
Carrying out work searches
Making applications
Creating and maintaining an online history
Registering with an employment agency
Creating and maintaining job profiles – however, you must not be mandated to use particular internet or social media sites (this must be entirely voluntary)
Seeking references
Any other actions which reasonably increase the likelihood of obtaining employment
