Amendment to the rule on the length of time UC claimants can limit their search to work in their existing field

A new rule change means that Universal Credit claimants will only be allowed to restrict their search for work to their existing occupation (or level of remuneration) for at most 4 weeks (rather than 3 months). If they don’t find work within that time, they risk being sanctioned if they don’t extend their search to any available job that they are capable of doing.  Benefit claimants who are sanctioned often face very difficult financial circumstances, including going without food, heating and other essentials.

PLP has significant concerns about this rule change, including that the correct legal process for making these new rules in Parliament has not been followed.

Please get in touch at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you think you or your clients are impacted. We will be collating data and case studies. We may also be able to provide casework assistance.

For more on the issue, you can read this helpful rightsnet article (https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-rights/news/item/way-to-work-regulations-were-introduced-under-urgency-procedure-as-delay-could-have-impacted-on-dwps-target-to-get-half-a-million-people-into-jobs-by-june), as well as a blog by Caroline Selman, PLP Research Fellow (Benefit Sanctions) (https://publiclawproject.org.uk/blog/way-to-work-what-does-it-mean-for-sanctions/)