How many hours should low-paid parents be expected to
work? Universal credit (UC) pilots provide an insight into government thinking
on this question. Over the next year or so, 15,000 working families in receipt
of UC will be randomly subject to different levels of ‘in-work conditionality’
requiring them to look for more or better paid jobs. Some will receive the
light touch: a couple of phone calls every now and then encouraging them to
increase their hours. Others will have to participate in a more intensive
programme of ‘challenging’ interviews. All will be at risk of losing at least
part of their benefit if they fail to comply. Read more on the Child Poverty
Action Group website.
