Jeremy Hunt to Crack Down on Benefits Claimants Refusing to Find a Job

JEREMY Hunt is set to announce a crackdown on benefits claimants who refuse to find a job, as the number of people leaving the workforce for a life on handouts reaches 100,000 annually. The Chancellor will highlight that the system has been moving in the "wrong direction" since the pandemic, and will call for a more rigorous approach to claiming cash benefits. Hunt will also criticize the Labour Party, suggesting that they would remove incentives to work. In addition, he will unveil plans to raise the national living wage to at least £11 per hour, benefiting two million of the country's lowest-paid workers.

Labour Criticized for Removing Incentives to Work

Hunt will use his speech at the Tory party's annual rally in Manchester to criticize the Labour Party's stance on work incentives. He will argue that paying for the country's safety net should be a social contract based on fairness for those in work and compassion for those who are not. Hunt will emphasize the need to address the issue of people leaving the labour force for a life on benefits while companies are struggling to find workers. He will also stress the importance of fairness in the sanctions regime, suggesting that those who refuse to even look for work do not deserve the same benefits as those who are actively trying to find employment.

New Crackdown on Dads Who Refuse to Pay Child Maintenance

Alongside the crackdown on benefits claimants, Welfare Secretary Mel Stride will also announce a new initiative to target dads who fail to pay child maintenance. The aim of this measure is to ensure that parents fulfill their responsibilities and contribute financially to their children's upbringing. This proposal is part of a longer-term strategy to encourage timely payment and prevent parents from shirking their responsibilities.

Raising the National Living Wage to £11 per Hour

In his speech, Hunt will reveal plans to increase the national living wage to at least £11 per hour. This change will have a positive impact on the country's lowest-paid workers, with full-time employees earning an extra £1,000 per year. Approximately two million workers will benefit from this pay rise, which is part of the government's efforts to make work pay and improve productivity in the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed his support for these upcoming measures, highlighting that they will ensure work always pays. The detailed plans for these initiatives will be outlined in November's Autumn Statement.