Universal Credit change means 180,000 claimants must seek more work

Anyone receiving Universal Credit and currently working less than 18 hours a week will have to start looking for more work from Monday.

The government is raising the threshold from 15 hours a week as part of its overhaul of the welfare system.

Some 180,000 people in the UK will be affected by the change, according to the Department of Work and Pensions.

The new rules affect individuals earning below £892 a month or £1,437 for couples, the DWP said.

This is up from £617 for individuals and £988 for couples.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: ‘Today’s changes will help more people on universal credit move into well paid jobs and progress towards financial independence, which is better for them and for economic growth.’

He added that ‘welfare should always be a safety net and not a lifestyle choice’.

Claimants will be expected to use the the Jobcentre support available if struggling to boost their hours, or face losing their benefits.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: ‘We will always back those who want to work hard and today we are radically expanding the support available to help people progress in work.

‘With the next generation of welfare reforms, I want to help thousands of people on their journey off benefits and towards financial independence.

‘Our plan is making work pay, with people in full-time work now £7,000 better off than on out-of-work benefits, and our tax cuts putting £900 back in the pockets of millions of workers across Britain.’

But the charity Turn2Us called on ministers to reconsider the change, which it said could have a ‘drastic impact’ on people with long-term health conditions, caring responsibilities or with irregular incomes, the BBC reports.

Mr Sunak last month announced his welfare reform plan, including a review of payments to people with mental health conditions, which prompted accusations of a ‘full-on assault on disabled people’.

Meanwhile, MoneySavingExpert.com’s Martin Lewis urged households earning less than £60,000 to check if they’re eligible for Universal Credit.

It comes after a report revealed £8billion in Universal Credit had been unclaimed over the past financial year.

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