Long-term jobless benefits claimants could be banned from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling under plans being launched by the Conservatives.
uncertain
claimants → ban → Conservatives
The plans would also see universal credit (UC) payments slashed for those who have not made consistent contributions to the welfare system, which Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed was currently “unfair to workers”.
asserted
Badenoch → see → workers
Under the Tory plans, anyone who claims UC when they are out of work would get six months of full benefits to find a job.
uncertain
they → claim → job
After that, the full rate would only be available to people who have contributed to the welfare system through their taxes for years.
asserted
who → contribute → years
Those who have not would have their UC standard rate slashed by a third and the payment would be loaded onto a “back to work” pre-payment card, which would ban spending on cigarettes, alcohol, betting and cash withdrawals.
asserted
which → have → cigarettes
Mrs Badenoch said: “Some will say this is unfair on people claiming benefits.
asserted
this → say → benefits
What is unfair is a system where someone who can work chooses not to and earns more from benefits than someone in a job.
asserted
who → work → job
“If you can work, you should work.
asserted
you → work → ?
Helping people into work is not punishment.
asserted
Helping → help → work
The best welfare is a well-paid job.
asserted
welfare → pay → ?
So, we will be tough on those who exploit the system because the current system is unfair to workers, taxpayers and those who truly need support.
asserted
who → exploit → support
We should not be borrowing from our children and grandchildren to support people who simply refuse to work.
asserted
who → borrow → people
The party sought to justify its plans by suggesting it was unfair for taxpayers to shoulder the costs of long-term jobless benefits claimants.
asserted
taxpayers → seek → claimants
Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “We cannot go on like this – with millions of people living on benefits instead of in work.
asserted
We → say → work
Britain can’t afford it.
asserted
Britain → afford → it
It’s not fair on taxpayers footing the bill.
asserted
taxpayers → ’ → bill
For people living on the breadline, work, not benefits, is the way out of poverty.
asserted
work → live → poverty
Read More
“We believe that if you can work, you should.
asserted
you → read → ?
And work should always pay better than benefits.
asserted
work → pay → benefits
Our plan gives people a safety net and a clear incentive to get a job.
asserted
plan → give → job
“Welfare should recognise the contribution people make through years of work.
asserted
people → recognise → work
We know people can fall on hard times.
asserted
people → know → times
What you’ve paid in should make a difference to the support you get.
asserted
you → pay → support
Under the plans, every two years a UC claimant has worked would buy them an extra year on the full rate of the benefit.
asserted
claimant → work → benefit
The so-called subsistence rate available to those who have not contributed enough would be worth 70p for every pound of the full rate.
asserted
who → call → rate
Those on the subsistence rate would be given a pre-payment card to access their benefits.
asserted
Those → give → benefits
This could be used to buy food and other everyday essentials, and pay for bills.
uncertain
This → use → bills
But it would prevent users from buying alcohol, cigarettes, placing bets or withdrawing cash.
asserted
it → prevent → cash
Further plans for welfare reform are likely to be revealed at the Conservative party conference later this month.
asserted
plans → reveal → conference
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman, said the Tories’ plan will not put a dent in the benefit bill.
asserted
plan → say → bill
“This welfare plan is so weak the Lib Dems could have authored it,” he said.
uncertain
he → author → it
“The Tories left more people on long-term benefits and benefit fraud at record levels.
“
asserted
Tories → leave → levels
Now they offer a spending card that won’t even put a dent in the coming £400 billion bill.
asserted
that → offer → bill
It’s a sticking plaster on a wound they opened.
asserted
they → ’ → wound
“Kemi’s latest decision to let the permanently unemployed go on claiming forever is tantamount to stabbing workers in the back.”
asserted
unemployed → let → back
Meanwhile, Labour suggested the blame for problems in the welfare system lay with the Tories.
uncertain
blame → suggest → Tories
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Conservatives had 14 years to fix our welfare system but they completely failed to make meaningful reforms.
“
asserted
they → say → reforms
Now they are proposing an unworkable new card scheme, which does nothing to tackle the numbers of people their system left signed off and written off.
asserted
system → propose → people
“While the bill for the taxpayer rose by £33 billion in their last year in government, this Labour Government is introducing effective and sustainable welfare reform alongside a £3.5 billion employment support package to help people stay in or return to work, and the national rollout of the jobs guarantee for young people who have been on universal credit.”
asserted
who → rise → credit
The Aporia
