WORKERS who lose their jobs will be prioritised for benefits over those who have never had one under a crackdown on welfare, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Claimants who have paid into the system will get greater income protection under the “unemployment insurance” benefit while others — such as new graduates — could get less.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall is leading the plans for welfare reformGetty
It comes as ministers say they are pursuing a “moral duty to get Britain working again”.
They are facing a worsening crisis in which more than 9.3million working aged people have no job — and are not looking for one.
The benefit plan, to be unveiled by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, would merge Jobseeker’s Allowance and the Employment and Support Allowance for those with a disability or health condition.
Under the scheme, support would be time-limited and all claimants would have to actively seek work, in a major change to the system.
Almost all disabled people and those with long-term health conditions on the new benefit would have to take part in conversations about employment support.
Exemptions would be put in place for those who are obviously unable to work.
A Government source said: “We have a moral duty to get Britain working again and put welfare spending on a sustainable path.
“We will deliver reform with real people and real voices at the heart of the changes — people who for too long have been ‘signed off’ rather than ‘signed up’ to support which will help them back to work.”
The source claimed that the situation Labour inherited from the Conservatives was stark.
Of the more than 9.3million out of work and not seeking it, 2.8million are on long-term sickness benefits — one of the highest rates in Europe.
One in eight young people is not in work, education, or training and the UK is the only major economy whose employment rate has not recovered since the Covid pandemic.
Last year, the Government spent £65billion on sickness benefits.
By 2030, it will be spending more than £1billion a week.
The Government source insisted: “Our reforms are not simply being driven by a desire to balance the books.
“It’s about giving people the best opportunities to get on in life through meaningful reforms to the system to stop people becoming trapped and dependent on benefits.”
The source said the Government wanted to restore trust and fairness in the system by fixing the broken assessment process.
The shake-up of the benefit system will be unveiled next week.
Ms Kendall is to publish a Green Paper on the overhaul for consultation in the next few weeks.
It comes as ministers prepare to unveil more than £6billion of welfare cuts, including making it harder for people to qualify for Personal Independence Payments.
The proposed changes are highly likely to outrage left-leaning Labour MPs who are already planning a revolt against welfare cuts.
A shake-up of the UK’s benefit system will be unveiled next weekAlamy Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
