The Conservatives start their conference at the weekend and Kemi Badenoch is kicking off proceedings by announcing a significant plan for welfare reform – stopping many under-25s from being able to claim universal credit, the main unemployment benefit. Instead, they would get a new Get to Work Allowance – which would be subject to conditions from day one intended to help people find work. If after six months they are still out of work, they would go on to a new benefit, a Subsistence Allowance, worth just 70% of their previous claims.
The plans don’t relate to disability benefits, because they would only apply to people able to work. Explaining the plans in an interview with the Spectator, Kemi Badenoch said: It’s unfair to the people who get up and go to work, having others earn more than them for not working. Even families on benefits know that the system is out of control.
But no one wants to be the one to get off the treadmill first. Government has to do that. The Tories are describing this as a “tough love” approach designed to deal with the problem of around one million young people being Neets (not in employment, education or training).
Tim Shipman, who interviewed Badenoch for the Spectator, has a more colourful description. And here is the party’s explanation of its plans from its news release. The Conservatives will require all 18-24 year olds who attempt to claim universal credit and who have not previously worked for a continuous period of 6 months to participate in a Get to Work scheme in exchange for welfare.
Participants will receive a new ‘Get to Work Allowance’ which is contingent on their participation in the scheme. To be exempt from these requirements 18-24 year olds will have to demonstrate that they have previously been in continuous employment for a period of 6 months or more, for a minimum of 16 hours a week. Young people on UC who are not subject to work-related requirements, such as for health reasons or due to caring responsibilities, will be exempt.
The programme would last up to six months. Participants could leave earlier if they secure a job, apprenticeship or qualifying education or training place. For participants in the Get to Work Scheme, the new Get to Work Allowance will replace the universal credit standard allowance.
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