The Labour government is facing fierce accusations of overseeing a 'mass opt-out' from work after it abandoned the policy requiring all jobless benefits claimants to look for employment full-time.
Major Shift in Benefits Policy
Instead of mandating that unemployed individuals spend 35 hours per week seeking work, the government will now simply 'encourage' them to 'take all reasonable steps' to secure employment. The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed it is trialling this significant change, claiming it will give benefits claimants 'more choice and empowerment on their journey into work'.
This policy shift comes amidst a growing worklessness crisis in Britain, with official figures revealing that more than eight million people now claim Universal Credit. Of these, approximately four million recipients have no requirement to seek employment.
Tory Backlash and Wider Reforms
The Conservative opposition has slammed the move, with Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately declaring that 'the Government is overseeing a mass opt-out' of work. She questioned why hard-working families should pay more in tax so that 'someone on benefits can turn down jobs they're offered'.
This controversy follows Labour's forced abandonment of plans to trim the benefits bill by £5 billion in early July after significant backlash from their own backbenchers. The government's broader reform package includes:
- New Jobcentres featuring areas to support a 'trauma-informed approach'
- 'Calming biophilic design' elements in Jobcentre facilities
- Security guards wearing uniforms with 'a more approachable style'
Pathfinder Tests and Future Direction
The DWP has agreed to end what it describes as the 'rigid focus' on 35-hour weekly job search requirements. A new service is being trialled with looser requirements, where work coaches will encourage claimants to take reasonable steps toward employment while considering their individual circumstances.
The government stated: 'Depending on the outcome of the trial, we will review our policy for all jobless benefits claimants.' A comprehensive report detailing the new Jobs and Careers Service is scheduled for publication in spring 2026.
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, welcomed the trial as a 'constructive step forward on a holistic, supportive and humane approach to worklessness'. She expressed satisfaction that the government demonstrates 'a genuine desire to move away from the failed punitive welfare system of old'.
The reforms also include potential changes to the sanctions regime for those who fail to attend Jobcentre meetings, though the government has cautioned about potential 'unintended consequences' of introducing mandatory non-financial penalties.
