DWP could 'loosen' benefit sanctions for PIP and Universal Credit claimants

The Department for Work and Pensions has been told to shake up its "box ticking culture". The DWP is under pressure to change its culture to encourage more and more benefit claimants back into work, amid a PIP and Universal Credit crackdown.

Rebecca Florisson, principal analyst at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, told the Express newspaper: "In recent years, the Government has increased punitive sanctions on some of the most vulnerable people in society to push them into 'any job'.

"Instead of further tightening benefit sanctions – which the Government’s own research suggests doesn’t result in more people in work – the focus should be on improving the quality of jobs available." She commented: "Jobs need to be secure, rewarding and flexible to make the risk of taking up work whilst experiencing a health condition worth it.

READ MORE UK braced for 'first' 30C heatwave of year and it will last 72 hours

"We currently have a near record number of people on zero-hour contracts (over one million) and overall there are 6.8 million people in severely insecure forms of work meaning they don’t have the stability of a predictable wage or access to employment protections.

"We need to improve this offer if we want more people to look for and enter jobs." It comes as the Conservative Party continues to try and get claimants off benefits and into the workplace with its Back to Work Plan, which has committed funding to the push.

Additional support comes alongside tougher sanctions for people who don’t look for work, as part of the next generation of welfare reforms. It includes exploring reforms of the fit note system, expansion of available treatment and employment support, and formal launch of the WorkWell service to help people start, stay and succeed in work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, said: "We are rolling out the next generation of welfare reforms to help more people start, stay and succeed in work. We know the positive impact work can have, not just on our finances, but our health and wellbeing too.

"So we are expanding the voluntary support for people with health conditions and disabilities, including our flagship Universal Support programme. But our message is clear: if you are fit, if you refuse to work, if you are taking taxpayers for a ride – we will take your benefits away."