Benefit claimants who refuse to take jobs offered to them will have their ... trends now
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Benefit claimants who refuse to take a job will face automatic cuts to their handouts as part of back-to-work plans rolled out by Jeremy Hunt.
Treasury sources said measures in the Budget will ‘significantly increase’ the number of financial sanctions imposed on those who failed to attend job interviews or refused to take up offers of employment.
For some time, jobcentres have been able to dock the benefits of people who refuse to take a job, but it is rare.
New funding will allow the Department for Work and Pensions to automate referrals, although a final decision on withdrawing benefits will still be made by jobcentre staff.
‘The current system is not a real deterrent,’ a source said. ‘There are many people at the moment who could be sanctioned for not taking a job but are not. Automation is going to change that.’
Benefit claimants who refuse to take a job will face automatic cuts to their handouts as part of back-to-work plans rolled out by Jeremy Hunt
The new back-to-work plan follows months of work by work and pensions secretary Mel Stride (pictured)
Those found to have turned down a job offer could have their benefits slashed for three months, or up to six months if they have had a similar sanction in the previous year.
