universal credit conditionality changes - adviCe for claimants
background to the latest universal credit conditionality changes
Since the start of 2022, the government have systematically increased the conditionality for those in receipt of Universal Credit. In January the government introduced the ‘Way to Work’ campaign meaning claimants could only restrict their work search to their field of expertise for 12 weeks (down from 4). The AET (Administrative Earnings Threshold) increased from 9 hours to 12, and in January 2023 it rose again to 15 hours. It was planned to increase to 18 hours in Autumn 2023 but this has been put on hold until 2024.
In October 2023, the DWP increased the work requirements for lead carers of 3 year olds to 30 hours per week (up from 16 hours for lead carers of 3-4 year olds, and up from 25 hours for lead carers of 5-12 year olds). Details of claiming Universal Credit as a family is available here.
We believe the 30 hour ruling will be hugely challenging for single parent families due to the barriers to longer work hours including a lack of affordable childcare and flexible jobs. We have been campaigning against this change since the plans for it were first announced in March 2023. We have also been in touch with the DWP, alongside our partners to better understand how this policy will be implemented. The information from that is outlined below.
flexibility within the 30 hours rule
The DWP have repeatedly stated that there will be flexibility within the 30 hour ruling and a few easements are in place. We have outlined the key ones here:
The 30 hours is a maximum and work coaches are able to tailor it down based on individual circumstances
Commute times count towards the 30 hours of work and maximum commute times can be adjusted dependent on the number of hours a lead carer is working
Lead carers of children aged 2 to 4 years are able to have their work search requirements turned off for up to a year if they are undertaking training which their work coach can justify that it will help the claimant gain work
Tailoring your claimant commitment
The DWP have stated that the new 30 hours rule will be implemented flexibility. At your Claimant Commitment Review if you are not able to meet the 30 hours work requirement you can ask for this to be reduced. Work coaches are advised that work requirements should be tailored to an individual claimant’s circumstances. The guidance they receive specifically states that work requirements can be reduced for the following reasons (although it should be noted this is not an exhaustive list):
childcare commitments
childcare availability
health conditions (you may be required to provide a note from your doctor for this)
caring responsibilities
If you are facing barriers which mean you cannot meet the 30 hours work requirement you should be able to agree a compromise with your work coach so make sure you discuss this with them at your Claimant Commitment Review meeting.
Following a Freedom of Information request, we were provided with the guidance that work coaches have been given on this change. You can read those documents here. You can also reference them in your meeting with your work coach:
changing your claimant commitment
If your work coach will not reduce your work requirements, or you cannot manage with what is agreed, you can request to change your claimant commitment. More details on how to do this are available on the Citizen’s Advice website here. In summary you should:
Contact the job center and ask for a review meeting to discuss your work commitments
Update your journal to explain the challenges you are facing
Meet with your work coach and explain your situation and the challenges you are facing, explain what level of work would be manageable and emphasise that the guidance work coaches are given allows for flexibility with this policy
If your work coach won’t agree to the change, you can make a complaint to the DWP here,
If you receive a sanction you can put in a mandatory reconsideration here
Write to your MP to explain the situation and request they write to the DWP in support of your request
Get in touch with us to let us know
Self-employment
For self-employed lead carers of 3-12 year olds, the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) is increasing to £1250 per month from January 2024. The MIF is the amount that the DWP uses to calculate UC entitlement for self-employed people, even if you actually earn below that figure. We are still gaining clarification from the DWP on what level of flexibility there will be within this new ruling, or indeed if self-employed lead carers will be treated less flexibly than employed lead carers.
taking action against this policy
You can find out more about the campaigning we have been doing against this policy here. You can take action by writing to your own MP to highlight the problems with this policy. A template letter is available here.
You can also download our policy briefing paper on it below.
Take a look at our take action page for details of our other campaign activities.