Universal Credit Claimants Pushed To Work Longer Hours

UNIVERSAL CREDIT - Tens of thousands of Universal Credit claimants will come under pressure to work more hours under changes introduced by the Government. The Chancellor has raised the earnings level for claimants to reach before they stop getting intensive support to find work or develop a career.

Previously individuals on Universal Credit got the extra help if they worked the equivalent of 8.6 hours or less, or for a couple 13.8 hours between them, based on the National Living Wage. The earning level for this ‘Intensive Work Search’ group of people has now been raised to the equivalent of 12 hours a week, or 19 for a couple, at the National Living Wage of £9.50 an hour for the over-23s.

The Government says around 114,000 people on Universal Credit will now qualify for the extra support to increase their pay and get more one-to-one time with a work coach, to support the overall aim of helping the economy grow. If people fail to meet the commitments set out in their UC agreement, such as turning up for a meeting, they could lose money due to sanctions. And the Chancellor has signalled that the threshold will rise further in the coming months, bringing more people into the ‘Intensive Work Search’ category.

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