Thousands claiming Universal Credit warned of major rule change, here’s how it may affect you

In a bid to get as many people as possible back to work, the Governmentwill be implementing changes to how benefits, and Universal Credit in particular, will be paid.

According to The Sun and their sources, claimants won’t be happy. Here is how to avoid losing out.

More benefits claimants will be sanctioned

Those who receive benefits and refuse to take a job will now face automatic slashes to their handouts.

The Sun reports that anyone failing to attend job interviews or not take offers of employment will be sanctioned.

The newspaper’s source said:

There are many people at the moment who could be sanctioned for not taking a job but are not. Automation is going to change that.

The changes will mean the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be able to automatically refer people who aren't accepting help to find employment.

Anyone found to have turned down a job could see their benefits cut by three months or up to six months.

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Changes will also require people to seek more working hours - unless they are already working 18 hours per week.

It is believed the changes could see 200,000 people get back into the workplace.

The DWP hasn’t confirmed automatic slashes

The changes come after Jeremy Hunt's ‘back to work’ rescue plan has been announced in a bid to help Britain avoid a recession.

Hunt said the new plan would hopefully break down barriers ‘that stop people from working’.

He added:

Independence is always better than dependence, which is why we believe those who can work, should.

So sanctions will be applied more rigorously to those who fail to meet strict work-search requirements or choose not to take up a reasonable job offer.

The DWP hasn’t confirmed the automatic slashes and insisted job centre staff would still have the final say over whether someone should lose their benefits.

DWP spokesperson said:

We are not and will not be automatically applying sanctions. To help our work coaches, we are exploring how automation can improve the speed and accuracy of sanction referrals.

To challenge the benefit sanctions, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration and appeal, file a complaint or take a case to court if you were discriminated against because of your disability.

Read more:

⋙ Thousands claiming Universal Credit warned they could lose £1000 due to new rule change

⋙ Thousands claiming Universal Credit to be impacted by major rule change from 26 February

Sources used:

- The Sun: 'Major change to Universal Credit planned and claimants won’t be happy – how to avoid losing out'