The DWP staff union warns the change will increase the risk of poverty for working claimants
The Public and Commercial Services Union has condemned new regulations introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions on February 27 which could affect more than 120,000 working people on Universal Credit. An increase to the Administrative Earnings Threshold means that more Universal Credit claimants will be moved from the ‘Light Touch’ group to the ‘Intensive Work Search’ group.
In a statement released by PCS it said: “PCS has been clear with the DWP that we oppose the introduction of any regime that results in more sanctions for claimants and that there is a mass of evidence that the threat of sanctions does nothing to help claimants find work. We have also been clear that gimmicky bonuses will do nothing to address the real issue of poverty pay in the DWP where more than 24,000 staff are paid the National Minimum Wage.
“Asking more customers to travel more often into jobcentres does nothing to help our staff or their workloads and does nothing to help the customers find the work that they need. Our members know what is needed to deliver decent jobcentre services, they need more staff to deliver vital frontline services to coach and give the right kind of support to help get claimants back into work.”
Latest Benefits News Earlier this week, DWP boss Mel Stride explained that the additional jobcentre support will increase a claimant’s employability through provision of extra one-to-one work search conversations with work coaches and through work search support sessions to help them overcome any challenges they may be experiencing.
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