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IN a press statement we have received from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it says the new Universal Credit system will help to support thousands more people to look for work, acquire new skills and progress into better-paid jobs. This sounds good, but in reality, it could mean a death nail for many small businesses and put many sectors of health care into a new funding and staffing crisis.

According to the DWP, Parents, over 50s, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will have opportunities arising from changes announced in the Budget that will see an investment of £3.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation and grow the economy.

This investment plan includes:-

•   £2 billion investment in support for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

•   £900 million investment in support for parents on Universal Credit.

•   £70 million investment in support for over 50s.

•   £485 million investment in support for unemployed people and people who are on Universal Credit and working fewer than full-time hours.

On paper, this sounds fantastic, but in reality, they are already raising alarm bells. The DWP says that:- "Taken together, these measures tackle the challenges in the labour market, which are holding back the UK’s economic prospects, helping millions of people with specific support to look for work and progress into better-paid jobs."

The constant use in statements coming out about:- "into better-paid jobs" is what many are seeing as a dangerous move, in what is currently a very hard economic climate.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride MP has also said:- "We know many people want to work but there are very real barriers we need to break down to help them into employment. This package of support helps people at any age and career stage to get into work, and progress into better-paid jobs; growing the economy and filling the labour market with skilled employees. These interventions are only the start of a long-term journey to drive down economic inactivity and mobilise more people into seeking employment, which I will continue to lead across Government."

According to the DWP, these new changes will see that:- "Parents on Universal Credit looking to move into full-time work will no longer be prevented from doing so because of high childcare costs. The Universal Credit childcare cost cap will rise in the summer meaning the Government will pay more for parents' childcare costs. For those with one child, it rises from:- £646.35 to £951, and for 2 children the cap is up from:- £1,108.04 to£1,630, then increasing in line with CPI each year until 2027/28. Parents will also be further supported with upfront childcare costs. This removes any gap in funds which would currently be claimed in arrears and eases parents into the childcare costs payment cycle."

When it comes to disabled people and people with health conditions, who are on Universal Credit, The Health and Disability White Paper, included as part of the Budget, sets out plans to rewire the benefits system for disabled people, shifting the dial onto what people can achieve and removing barriers to work. The DWP states that:- "A major element of this will be through the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, giving people the confidence to move into work while reducing the burden of unnecessary assessments. A new Universal Support programme will support disabled people and people with health conditions into sustained work, with those eligible able to opt-in to receive up to 12 months of provision, with the Government spending up to £4,000 per person and funding 50,000 places every year. This will help them to move quickly into suitable work and, with wraparound support, help them sustain that employment for the longer term. Pioneer areas are already mobilising services to provide greater support, and then the programme will ramp up over time, expanding to support thousands more people."

For other workers on Universal Credit, they will have a new:- "digital Mid-life MOT check." This "check" according to the DWP "will be introduced to help older workers understand what their employment choices now mean for the longer term; reaching 40,000 people a year."

The DOP also adds that:- "claimants will benefit from a boost to skills and better access to training through the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), Train and Progress and the new 'Returnerships' programme."

The press release continued on to what will happen for those on Universal Credit, who will be claiming Jobcentre support. In the release the DOP say:-"We are increasing job centre support for people on Universal Credit who could work more, helping them progress towards more paid work. This includes around:- 80,000 more people, whose partners claim Universal Credit, being given access to full job centre support for the 1st time. They will be assigned their own work coach who will provide tailored support to help them find work quickly. All those working less than 50% of a full-time week will also get full job centre support to look for more work as the Administrative Earnings Threshold increases to the equivalent of around:- 18 hours, from 15 hours. And more young people aged:- 16 to 24, on Universal Credit, will be able to see a work coach in a Youth Hub or benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches."

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