35-hour a week job search rules for benefit claimants could be scrapped

Rules that require out of work benefit claimants to spend 35 hours a week looking for a job could be revised.

In a recent report, MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee warned that blanket conditions can be stressful and leave people feeling disempowered and unsupported.

Instead, it’s suggested replacing rules such as the 35-hour job search requirement with a personalised action plan jointly developed by the claimant and their work coach.

This, it said, should be relevant to the claimant’s skills and experience.

‘Rigid’ focus on 35-hour rule to end

In response, the government has suggested it will end the “rigid focus” on the 35-hour job search requirements and said it’s currently testing a more personalised system.

“We’re satisfied that the government has a genuine desire to move away from the failed punitive welfare system of old,” said Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee.

Sanctions regime could be overhauled

The government is looking at making changes to the sanctions regime, such as introducing non-financial measures.

“The end of an over-reliance on financial sanctions and a hyper-focus on benefits compliance will help restore faith amongst claimants,” Ms Abrahams commented.

“They only want to be helped and not vilified to the point of erosion of their self-esteem."

At the moment, more than one in 20 universal credit claimants who can be sanctioned are receiving sanctions, with over 90% issued for missing appointments.