Concerns have been raised about plans for Universal Credit which are set to form part of Jeremy Hunt's budget announcement tomorrow (Wednesday).
Mr Hunt will rise at 12.30pm in the House of Commons to deliver his crucial budget speech, which he hopes will start to energise the UK's struggling economy.
As part of the announcement, the Universal Credit sanctions scheme is set to be tightened in a new push to get hundreds of thousands of people back into work. The move has prompted concern from campaign groups.
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Trades Union leaders have described the move to tighten up sanctions as "worrying." The move will see Job Centre staff given extra training to "ensure they are applying sanctions effectively."
The Independent reported large numbers of people will be told to attend more regular work coach meetings and skills bootcamps.
While there are concerns over sanctions, others have welcomed a move to scrap the hugely controversial Work Capability Assessments (WCA) that are currently used to determine if someone is fit to work and have been described as unfair and degrading. Scrapping the WCA is seen as the largest reform to the welfare system in a decade.
The minimum amount a person can earn without being required to attend regular Jobcentre meetings will be raised from the equivalent of 15 to 18 hours of earnings on the national living wage, while rules enabling those whose partner is in work not to attend meetings will be scrapped, according to The Independent.
The government will also start paying childcare costs on Universal Credit up front, rather than in arrears. The maximum amount people in receipt of benefits can claim for childcare will also be increased by several hundred pounds.
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