![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/16\/16\/77885253-12758029-image-a-53_1700151363335.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBenefit claimants who refuse to look for jobs after being deemed fit to work could lose their handouts after as little as six months under a major clampdown led by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Free prescriptions and dental treatment, and help with public transport costs could also be cut off for the worst offenders who refuse to engage with efforts to help them gain employment, under plans designed to cut the swelling number of people on long-term sick leave.<\/p>\n
The changes are part of the Government’s \u00a32.5 billion back-to-work plan, which it hopes will help up to 1,100,000 people look for and stay in employment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This includes people with long-term health conditions, disabilities and the long-term unemployed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unveiling the plan this afternoon ahead of next week’s autumn statement, Mr\u00a0Hunt\u00a0said the measures were necessary to prevent ‘anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers’ from receiving benefits.<\/p>\n
It comes amid rumours he will use that statement on November 22 to reduce inheritance tax as he seeks to rescue the Tories’ dire election prospects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Free prescriptions and dental treatment, and help with public transport costs could also be cut off for the worst offenders who refuse to engage with efforts to help them gain employment, under plans designed to cut the swelling number of people on long-term sick leave.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/16\/16\/77885967-12758029-image-a-54_1700151368581.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Unveiling the plan this afternoon ahead of next week’s autumn statement, Mr Hunt said the measures were necessary to prevent ‘anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers’ from receiving benefits.<\/p>\n
The reforms mean that no claimant should reach 18 months on unemployment in receipt of their full benefits if they have not taken ‘every reasonable step to comply with Jobcentre support’, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said.<\/p>\n
But in the worst cases it contains provisions for ‘stricter sanctions’ with the system ‘targeting disengaged claimants by closing the claims of individuals on an open-ended sanction for over six months and solely eligible for the Universal Credit standard allowance, ending their access to additional benefits such as free prescriptions and legal aid.’<\/p>\n
Ministers also said they will expand support for people with health conditions to stay in and find work, including increasing the number of people receiving NHS talking therapy by 384,000 over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Plans to add another 100,000 people to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) scheme, which aims to get those with severe mental illness quickly into paid employment and offer continued support them once in post, are also in the package.<\/p>\n
Help will also be offered through Universal Support in England and Wales, the DWP said, by matching 100,000 people per year with existing vacancies and supporting them in their new roles.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/16\/16\/75805943-12758029-Not_many_estates_pay_inheritance_tax_but_the_receipts_are_expect-a-68_1700151779570.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Not many estates pay inheritance tax, but the receipts are expected to rise sharply\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/16\/16\/77819457-12758029-Figures_yesterday_showed_inflation_fell_by_more_than_expected_to-a-69_1700151782438.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Figures yesterday showed inflation fell by more than expected to 4.6 per cent in October \u2013 its lowest level for two years. Experts had forecast a rate of 4.8 per cent<\/p>\n
Mr Hunt said: ‘We’re serious about growing our economy and that means we must address the rise in people who aren’t looking for work, especially because we know so many of them want to, and with almost a million vacancies in the jobs market the opportunities are there.<\/p>\n
‘These changes mean there’s help and support for everyone, but for those who refuse it, there are consequences too. Anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers will lose their benefits.’<\/p>\n
Reform of the ‘fit note’ system – whereby doctors issue records to provide evidence of the advice they have given about people’s fitness to work – will also be explored under the plans.<\/p>\n
‘Trailblazer trials’ will be used to offer better triage, signposting and support to those who have received a fit note for a prolonged period of time, and to better provide individuals whose health affects their ability to work with easy and rapid access to specialised work, the DWP said.<\/p>\n
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said that while an expansion of certain schemes would be introduced, toughened sanctions would see people attempting to ‘(take) taxpayers for a ride’ losing their benefits.<\/p>\n
Mandatory work placement trials will be rolled out, meaning that claimants will be forced to accept a job or undertake work experience to improve their prospects, and those who fail to do so will be hit with ‘immediate sanction’.<\/p>\n
A new ‘function’ will be introduced to the Universal Credit service that enables work coaches to digitally track a claimant’s attendance at interviews and fairs to give them ‘better evidence’ of an individuals job search activities and leave those who do not attend open to sanctions.<\/p>\n
Mr Stride said: ‘We are rolling out the next generation of welfare reforms to help more people start, stay and succeed in work. We know the positive impact work can have, not just on our finances, but our health and wellbeing too.<\/p>\n
‘So we are expanding the voluntary support for people with health conditions and disabilities, including our flagship Universal Support programme.<\/p>\n
‘But our message is clear: if you are fit, if you refuse to work, if you are taking taxpayers for a ride – we will take your benefits away.’<\/p>\n
The announcement forms part of wider plans to grow the economy expected in the autumn statement next week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Chancellor is increasingly expected to act to ease the inheritance tax burden next Wednesday after inflation fell slightly faster than predicted.<\/p>\n
He is also thought to have a bit more wriggle room after Treasury revenues were boosted by rising wages dragging people deeper into the tax system.<\/p>\n
Treasury sources have stressed that the package will not include anything that fuels inflation, and must be ‘affordable’.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Hunt is likely to move on business taxes first, but insiders have sounded increasingly warm on the prospect of trimming IHT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many Tories argue it is a tax on aspiration and reducing it would draw a very clear dividing line with Labour for the election.\u00a0<\/p>\n