DWP issues warning to benefit claimants they'll be hit with penalties if they refuse work offer
by Fionnula Hainey, Nina Lloyd and William Warnes PA · ChronicleLiveWork and pensions secretary Liz Truss has warned that benefit claimants who are able to work could face penalties if they turn down job offers. She emphasized that individuals have a "responsibility" to engage with training or employment programmes, warning that financial support may be withdrawn for those who refuse.
The Labour government plans to uphold the previous Conservative government's commitment to reducing welfare spending by £3 billion over five years. According to the prior administration's policies, approximately 400,000 more long-term claimants would need to prepare for work by the 2028/29 fiscal year to achieve these savings.
While speaking to the media, Ms. Truss did not elaborate on Labour's specific measures but assured that new initiatives would be introduced.
In her appearance on Sky News' 'Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips', the work and pensions secretary stated: "If people repeatedly refuse to take up the training or work responsibilities, there will be sanctions on their benefits. The reason why we believe this so strongly is that we believe in our responsibility to provide those opportunities, which is what we will do."
When discussing provisions for young individuals, Ms. Truss mentioned that the government aims to "transform" prospects through a "youth guarantee" in the forthcoming reforms, adding that young people will be "required to take them up", reports the Manchester Evening News.
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Ms Kendall remarked that "many millions" of disabled individuals and those with long-term health issues are eager to work, emphasising the need to "we need to break down the barriers to that happening". When asked about the potential denial of current benefits to some 400,000 people, she told Laura Kuenssberg on BBC's Sunday: "I'm saying we will bring forward our own reforms. You wouldn't expect me to announce this on your programme. But my objective is that disabled people should have the same chances and rights to work as everybody else."
Government statistics indicate a projected rise in incapacity benefit claimants from approximately 2.5 million in 2019 to an anticipated 4.2 million by 2029, with over three million having submitted claims last year.
This upcoming Tuesday, Ms Kendall plans to reveal proposals to "get Britain working". Her imminent white paper will likely propose initiatives such as assigning workplace coaches to mental health clinics and implementing a "youth guarantee" for 18 to 21 year olds to ensure they have employment or are engaged in education.
Regarding the increase in benefit claims, the Cabinet minister pointed out the complexity of the causes and acknowledged the UK as "an older and also sicker nation". She mentioned that there are instances of people who have "self-diagnosed" mental health issues, while also acknowledging the serious issue of mental illness within the country.
She stated: "I think there are a combination of factors here. I do think we are seeing an increase in the number of people with mental health problems, both self-diagnosed – I think it's good that stigma has been reduced – but also diagnosed by doctors. We're also seeing more people in their 50s and above, often women, with bad knees, hips, joints. We've got a real problem with our health service."
When asked if "normal feelings" were being "over-medicalised", Ms Kendall told the BBC, "I genuinely believe there's not one simple thing. You know, the last government said people were too bluesy to work. I mean, I don't know who they were speaking to. There is a genuine problem with mental health in this country."
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