Jobseekers claiming Universal Credit will have to look for work outside of their desired area after a month or may face sanctions under new government plans.
From Thursday, people will have to look outside their chosen fields after just four weeks, rather than the current three months.
If they turn down employment, or do not seem to be making the requisite effort to find work, they could see their benefit payment reduced.
READ MORE: Universal Credit crackdown introduced – here’s what claimants need to know
The proposal called “Way to Work” means claimants will have to widen their job search outside their previous occupation or sector.
The move is intended to target those who are able to work but are unemployed or using universal credit to top up a low income.
As job vacancies hit a record high of 1.22 million between September and November, reporter Louisa Gregson asked job seekers how they feel about the new plans.
The first man I speak to outside the job centre in Prestwich says the new sanctions will not affect him as he can’t work on health grounds and so is not seeking work.
The man is still annoyed at the new proposals and is willing to speak, but wishes to remain anonymous.
The dad-of-one says he is also a full time carer for his wife and has experienced the struggles of job seeking in the past.
He says: “I think it is terrible. It’s a load of cr*p.
“How are people supposed to live if you keep sanctioning them?
“Even for minor faults they sanction them.
“It’s hard to find jobs and people still have to live.
“For some people, a job that is on offer might not pay enough to cover cost of living.
“Once you take away bus fares, buying food at work etc – you can work out worse off.
“That happened to my wife a few years back,” he says.
“She was offered a job that would have made her £5 a week better off, but then she had to factor in transport.
“It was pointless.”
Rebecca Ross, 20, lives in Prestwich and suffers from mental and physical health issues.
Studying to be a vocal coach, she suffers from a neurological disorder and has eye-sight problems.
She says two capability for work assessments were cancelled but then her universal credit was cut because she didn’t attend.
When I approach her, she has just been back to the job centre to re-open her claim.
She said: “I am unable to work because of my mental health.
“I was supposed to attend a capability for work assessment but it was cancelled.
“I was told another date would be set, then a Universal credit officer called and cancelled the second appointment.
“Then my universal credit was cut – it felt like they were doing it so they wouldn’t have to pay me.
“It’s not right, it’s unfair.
“Even if I was fit for work, I would want to work on something I feel comfortable in, but getting something close to what you are looking for is rare.
“If I could work I would but you want a job that fits you rather than shaping yourself to fit a new job.”
Eighteen-year-old Ben Walsh, from Prestwich agrees.
He says: “It’s not a good thing, it’s going to mess with a lot of livelihoods.
“It should not be a thing.”
Ben says he has just left college, where he studied creative media, and is not yet ready to go to university so is looking for a job.
Currently, he says he is living with his parents, but says without their backing he would be under a lot more pressure.
“I live with my parents, if I lived alone I would be under a lot more pressure, ” he says.
“It must be hard for teenage parents or teenagers not living at home.
“I am just looking for any job at the moment, but even then there are certain things I don’t want to do because I am not good at it – like retail.
“It would be better if people got a little bit longer to find work.”
Ben says he wasn’t aware of the new plans.
He said: “It not put out there enough, people need to know in advance so they can prepare and it’s not such a shock. “
A twenty-two-year-old from Radcliffe, who gives his name only as Jamie, says he too thinks it’s tough on young people who are trying to find work.
He says he would like to be a chef and is interested in a culinary course but has noticed the job centre keeps pushing him towards labouring and warehouse work.
“I feel like I’m being forced into something.” he says.
Jamie says he has registered his interest in a culinary course and is heading back to the job centre next week for an update.
” I feel like young people should be given time to find the right work,” he says. “You’re in a job for a lot of your life.”
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