Have your say! Is it right to push people back to work with new DWP rules?

Huge reforms are coming to benefits, Jobcentres and education, as Work and Pensions secretary Liz Kendall publishes her "Get Britain Working" plan. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be investing in some areas and clamping down on the country's benefits bill in others - but the government have been accused of "peddling the benefit scrounger mythology".

Have your say! Is it right for the DWP to push harder on getting people into work? What's been your experience of dealing with the DWP? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

The government aims to achieve an 80% employment rate, after figures show that levels of "economic activity" are higher now than before the Covid-19 pandemic - a pattern not matched amongst other top nations. The Mirror reports that the DWP will be taking steps to address this, using hundreds of millions of pounds to help address the root causes of unemployment such as ill health and poor training.

A "youth guarantee scheme" will offer every 18-21 year old an apprenticeship, training, or education in order to improve the skills gap, and will partner with big names such as the Premier League, Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Those who fail to take up the offers face being sanctioned. The details of the sanctions are expected to be set out in the White Paper but DWP Secretary Liz Kendall has already said it will mean those who don't take up offers to "earn or learn" will lose their benefits.

Jobcentres will be brought "into the 21st Century", using technology and AI to provide up-to date information on jobs, skills and other support and to free up Work Coach time. "Tick box" culture will be discouraged, and more services will be available online.

Parts of the country with the highest levels of ill health and unemployment will receive extra support for local NHS services, with plans to cut waiting lists, provide more mental health support, and tackle obesity. They estimate around 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness, and it has risen in recent years.

Around £137 billion is expected to be spent on welfare benefits in this financial year, with the vast majority being spent on supporting people with disabilities and health conditions, and on housing support. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said: "make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society".

Have your say! Is it right for the DWP to push harder on getting people into work? What's been your experience of dealing with the DWP? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.