Universal Credit Changes (Jan 2022) After Hours

[hannah]

Under existing rules claimants have 3 months to find a job in their preferred sector before facing the prospect of sanctions. New rules will mean that sanctions could begin 4 weeks after their initial UC claim, if they're not making reasonable efforts to find and secure a job in any sector or turn down a job offer.

New jobs mission to get 500,000 into work

A new target to move half a million people into jobs by the end of June launches today, under ambitious government plans to turbo-charge our national recovery from COVID-19.

www.gov.uk

Whilst having people in employment is good, some people will be left with no option but to take one of the first offers that comes along. That could easily weaken skills across many industries. People would possibly be unavailable for interviews when they specialise in a certain sector for example. The cost of living crisis will likely force many to just take anything.

A tough balancing act, but this plan seems flawed to me.

 

[Steve]

A tough balancing act, but this plan seems flawed to me.

I agree, especially for folk who may have very specialised skills. 4 weeks to find something relevant (and paying appropriately to their skills and experience), before they have to take any old job going or lose benefits?

 

[Keren]

It is hard to see how it won't put some people in real difficulty.

One month is too short a time IMHO. For example, a kid goes to school/college/uni and get professional qualifications. They start a happy new life in their dream job aligned to their training and career goals. Then through no fault of their own lose that job. And bang nothing on UC after a month forcing them to abandon their career and become a delivery driver or something. They're trapped and all that training is wasted. It is not that far fetched.

 

[Legion]

Just read the article. I had no idea you only had 3 months originally either.

 

[Dylan]

Presumably will result in a lot of people taking jobs then leaving them within weeks when they manage to find something more suitable.

 

[Tom]

The system needs rules and sanctions to stop the small minority who are swinging the lead from getting away with it.

The problem is that politicians think that if rules and sanctions work then more rules and more sanctions work better. And that there is no end to the number of rules and sanctions that can be introduced.

The more complex the system, the more rules and regulations, the harder it is to administer, and the more likely it is that mistakes will be made - honest people will lose money, skivers will flourish.

What we need is a radical overhaul of the benefits system, making it much simpler and easier to administer and getting rid of pointless rules and regulations. And cutting way back on sanctions.