UK announces welfare system overhaul to address tight labour market

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday said that disabled benefit claimants would be able to seek work without losing financial support as part of an overhaul to help alleviate a tight labour market.

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday said that disabled benefit claimants would be able to seek work without losing financial support as part of an overhaul to help alleviate a tight labour market. "It is the biggest change to our welfare system in a decade," Hunt said in the annual budget speech.

"(The) plans will abolish the Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain and separate benefit entitlement from an individual’s ability to work. As a result, disabled benefit claimants will always be able to seek work without fear of losing financial support." In separate measures for those without a health condition, he said sanctions would be applied more rigorously for people who "choose not to take up a reasonable job offer."