Starting Wednesday, November 26, Universal Credit rules are set to be softened for around 561,630 claimants as part of a shakeup by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Labour government. The revised approach addresses concerns that current sanctions—such as payment stops lasting from one week up to a year for missing job centre appointments—can be overly harsh and inconsistently applied.
According to reports, the government is exploring introducing “non-financial” sanctions. Instead of cutting payments, repeat no-shows may face increased mandatory appointments or other measures aimed at encouraging engagement without immediate financial penalties. These changes are expected to be included in the forthcoming Autumn Budget.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden highlighted the urgency of creating better opportunities across the UK, stating the country faces a “crisis of opportunity.” A DWP spokesperson emphasized that supporting claimants into secure jobs remains the top priority: “We are intensifying our Get Britain Working plan with ambitious employment reforms, modernizing job centres, and providing tailored support through the Connect to Work initiative. While promoting welfare-to-work transitions, it remains essential that claimants fulfill their obligations by engaging with employment support and accepting suitable job offers.”
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Critics from the Conservative Party, including shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately, slammed the changes. She argued Labour is weakening job-seeking requirements and would fund increased benefits by raising taxes further—a move she called “disgraceful.”
The DWP continues to assess how to improve the sanctions system fairly and effectively, acknowledging concerns about potential unintended consequences if non-financial sanctions involve more frequent appointments.