Huge changes in the Universal Credit system will see thousands more people pressure into finding work or increasing the number of hours they work, according to a report. 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 has been introduced to help highlight those claimants with no income, or on a very low income. According to the Mirror, changes to the system will come into effect next month.
Explaining the workings of the shake-up, the publication said 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.
