Parents on benefits will now have to spend twice as long each week looking for work, according to a new change to the Universal Credit system. Previously, they were required to spend as little as 16 hours searching for employment, but this has now been increased to as many as 30 hours. Alternatively, Universal Credit claimants can increase their hours in an existing part-time job. The government hopes that this change will help address the high levels of job vacancies and reduce the reliance on state support.
Breaking the cycle of generations signing on
Welfare Secretary Mel Stride believes that taxpayers are getting a raw deal by financially supporting out-of-work parents. He wants to instil the value of work in children and break the cycle of generations relying on benefits. In an article for HOAR, Stride states that "for some families work still isn't the norm" and that this is unfair to both taxpayers and the children growing up in workless households. These children are five times more likely to be in poverty. The government aims to change the system so that parents of children aged three to 12 on Universal Credit will need to spend more time in work or job searching.
Increased help for childcare
In addition to the changes to job search requirements, the government has also announced increased support for childcare. Under the new system, eligible parents will receive £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more. This move is expected to provide further assistance to families and help them balance work and childcare responsibilities.
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