A minimum living income should be introduced for Brits, according to a new report. The policy could be similar to the National Living Wage, but with benchmarks for different types of households, the report's authors say.
The report has been written by Bright Blue - a Conservative think tank - and guided by a cross-party commission of politicians. Former work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb helped guide the report and said the current welfare system has “significant gaps and weaknesses”.
The report argues a minimum living income would help tackle this, recommending the Government’s committee on social security could then recommend minimum levels of payments, reports the Daily Express. The Bright Blue report will also call for Universal Credit claimants to be given a new digital platform.
This platform would notify Britons when they might be eligible to access more support. In addition, the report is set to suggest a new “contribution element” be added to Universal Credit.
This could potentially be paid out to those who have made an “additional” National Insurance payment in a new category Britons would be able to opt-out of. If people were to pay into the scheme, and later become unemployed then they could receive more support in return
Consequently, the think-tank is to state this could help middle-class families with substantial payments such as mortgages while they look for more work. The Government is also looking at ways to get people back to work, including those with a disability.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said an upcoming white paper would “shape” the Government’s approach on the matter. The Times reported plans being considered by Government ministers which would allow disability benefit claimants to return to work, but still keep some of their payments.
