Chancellor Jeremey Hunt has announced a series of changes affecting people on Universal Credit in his Autumn Budget.
The long-awaited statement to MPs today included details about new measures to 'balance the books' following a period of market turmoil under predecessors Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng.
As he revealed changes to Universal Credit, Mr Hunt said that around 600,000 more people seeking support from the government will have to meet with a work coach.
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He also announced an investment of an extra £280 million in the Department of Work and Pensions to "crackdown" on benefit fraud and error over the next two years.
The Government's review of the state pension age will be published in early 2023, the Chancellor said. The latest announcement comes as the chancellor faced repeated calls to increase Universal Credit in line with inflation.
Mr Hunt said Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride will review "issues holding back workforce participation", which will conclude early in the new year.
He said he also wanted to help people already working to raise their incomes and become financially independent, adding: "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."
Overall, the figures show that 5.8 million people were on Universal Credit in October. This is up from 5.5 million in March 2022, but below the peak of 6.0 million in March 2021.
More than half (57%) of people receiving the benefit in October were women, and 41% of those receiving the benefit in September were in employment.
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