Work More Hours or Lose Your Benefits

Rarely a day now passes without ministers looking to impose new conditions on welfare claimants. The latest proposal under consideration is for low-paid workers to be forced to work more hours or face losing their benefits.  Ahead of the national launch of Universal Credit in October, a DWP document notes that "the current Jobseekers Allowance caseload will be joined by current claimants of tax credits/housing benefit who are working less than could reasonably be expected." It adds: "The Welfare Reform Act enables us to place a wide range of mandatory requirements on this group (e.g. work search, work availability and work preparation requirements). Any requirement must be intended to help them find work, more work or better paid work."  Read more on the New Statesman website.