Reform UK has announced a welfare-to-work scheme as part of a plan to save UK taxpayers £50 billion through cuts to the benefits bill. The scheme, revealed by Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick at a press conference in London, would require people claiming unemployment benefits for more than a year to work.
Key elements of the benefits overhaul
The plan includes two major changes: banning non-British citizens from receiving almost all working-age benefits, such as Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance, and slashing the number of people receiving disability benefits like Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Of the current 6.9 million claimants, only 2.16 million would continue to receive the same amount.
Jenrick highlighted the scale of long-term unemployment, noting that more than 330,000 adults on Universal Credit are capable of work and have been reportedly looking for it for over 12 months.
Details of the welfare-to-work scheme
Under the proposal, claimants would work 20 hours each week in a scheme run by their local council. Tasks could include cleaning high streets and parks, carrying out minor repairs to council houses, or working in libraries and community centres. They might also help schools or social service departments, but only in "non-sensitive" roles that do not involve working with children, people receiving care, or accessing private information.
Those who refuse to participate could have their benefits cut or ended. Participants would receive an extra £30 a week on top of their benefits to cover expenses such as travel or food. Anyone who secures a proper job could leave the scheme immediately. The goal is to help claimants build work habits and enhance their CVs to improve their chances of finding employment.
Political context and reactions
Similar schemes have been proposed by both Labour and the Conservatives in the past. The Tories wanted young unemployed people to do community work. Labour, traditionally opposed to welfare-to-work schemes, has promised a "jobs guarantee" with compulsory jobs from employers such as E.ON, JD Sports, Tesco, and TUI.
Whether Reform's proposal can succeed in reducing the welfare bill where other parties have failed remains uncertain. Many working taxpayers may view it as fair that claimants work if they are able.
