BRITS on benefits who refuse to look for work risk losing their right to free NHS prescriptions, dental care and help with energy bills.
The move, set to be announced in next week’s Autumn Statement, forms part of Jeremy Hunt’s major plan to crackdown on economic inactivity.
ReutersJeremy Hunt will stop Brits on benefits who refuse to look for work from accessing free NHS prescriptions and dental care[/caption]
Around nine million Brits of working age are currently unemployed.
On Wednesday Mr Hunt will unveil a £2.5bn “back to work plan” in an effort to bring the figure down.
Fresh funds will help up to 1.1 million people find work.
Under the scheme benefit recipients who don’t look for jobs risk losing access to free NHS prescriptions, dental care, legal aid and energy bill support.
And sick notes will be approved by civil servants instead of doctors in a trial where patients will be treated by therapists working for DWP.
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Mr Hunt insists there must be fairness for hard-working taxpayers and anyone shirking employment must face the consequences.
He said: “We’re serious about growing our economy and that means we must address the rise in people who aren’t looking for work – especially because we know so many of them want to and with almost a million vacancies in the jobs market the opportunities are there.
“These changes mean there’s help and support for everyone – but for those who refuse it, there are consequences too. Anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers will lose their benefits.”
Digital technology will be used to track claimants’ attendance at job fairs and interviews as part of the beefed-up regime.
The Chancellor said the changes are the biggest set of welfare reforms since the introduction of Universal Credit back in 2012.
Reforms also mean that no claimant should hit 18 months out of work on full benefits if they’ve not taken all reasonable steps to comply with Jobcentre demands.
Speaking to The Sun, the Chancellor said the changes mean a new “social contract” between the strivers and those out of work.
He said the system needs to be “rebalanced” in favour of taxpayers funding the benefits demanding something in return.
The changes, which will kick in next year, are part of an overall £2.5 billion plan aiming to help more than 1 million look for work and stay there.
This includes help for people with long-term health conditions who are able to work from home. Figures show 20 per cent of people who are long-term sick or disabled want to work.
Welfare Secretary Mel Stride said: “Work is good. It pays the bills, improves health and grows the economy – so we’re all better off.
“And it also means we can support those who can’t work, as any compassionate society should.
“Sun readers understand this, and they know fairness should be at the heart of our welfare system.
“It’s my job to make sure we never lose sight of that. And that’s why we need to make some changes.
“Because too many people are failing to keep to their side of the bargain.
“Over 130,000 sanctions were made in the last quarter – the majority for people skipping job centre appointments or interview without good reason.
He added: “That’s just not on, and we won’t stand for it.
“So when we’ve helped people towards work through intensive job centre support, we’ll expect them to take up work or other intensive activity to get them into a job.
“And we’ll track attendance at jobs fairs and interviews, and close benefits claims after six months when someone’s not playing ball.
“We’re committed to supporting everyone who needs our welfare safety net.
“We are also focused on helping those who can do so to improve their lives – you’ll hear more about that at the Autumn Statement.
“But we will not turn away from our responsibility to the taxpayer to make sure genuine fairness is at the heart of the welfare system.”