Universal Credit claimants have been issued a warning after new rules for the benefit have come into force today.
Previously, those claiming Universal Credit were given three months to search for a job they have experience for and accept it.
Now, as of February 8, that has been dramatically cut to just four weeks and claimants will be expected to accept alternative offers of employment or risk having their benefit cut.
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The Government confirmed the update and said: "The changes in the regulations aim to support people into work faster as we recover from the pandemic.
"If people are not able to find work in their previous occupation or sector, they are expected to look for work in another suitable sector and this will be part of their requirements for receiving their benefit payment."
This comes as an attempt to get 500,000 more people into work as the UK looks forward to boost the economy after the number of lockdowns over the pandemic.
According to The Sun, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said people who turn down a job they're "perfectly capable" of doing will be hit with sanctions.
Those who refuse to take up an offer of work will face having their benefits cut as The Government now claims there are more than a million job vacancies across Britain.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of job vacancies in October to December 2021 rose to a new record of 1,247,000.
Job Centre staff will be asked to "accelerate" the process of "match making" those looking for work with companies who are open for employment.
Coffey said the Government is eager to push people into jobs where more staff is needed such as construction, social care, plus supply chain roles like warehousing and logistics.
She said: "We're conscious that a lot of restrictions are going right around the country.
"The economy is recovering thanks to the rollout of vaccination and employers need those jobs.
"The accelerated process we're doing will help people get into work. They'll get more money in their pocket and improve their mental wellbeing."
She added: "If you are offered a job and you turn it down, even though it's a job you're perfectly capable of doing, we are going to be saying a lot more, 'we don't think that's appropriate.'
"You're receiving taxpayers' money week in, week out to look for work, there's a job there that you are perfectly capable of doing and we will continue to support you.
"If you choose not to get work then why should you get paid? It's quite possible you'd be referred for sanction and as a consequence part of your benefits would be suspended."
Universal Credit can be claimed by people who either are unemployed or have a low income.
During the pandemic, a spike in claimants were recorded and around two-fifths of Universal Credit claimants have a job, but are entitled to the benefit to help make ends meet due to low wages or are in part-time work.
According to DWP figures, 1.7 million Universal Credit claimants were searching for work in December, of which 179,000 had been on the benefit for less than three months.
As the Mirror reports, ministers insisted the demand for workers was there, with 1.2 million vacancies - 59 percent higher than pre-pandemic.
But Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of the Learning and Work Institute, said: “This ‘crackdown’ won’t make a significant impact on those numbers and it’s not where the real challenges lie.
“People who’ve recently lost their jobs are the most likely to find work quickly. To tackle current labour shortages, we need a more ambitious plan for people who have left the labour market, with support increasing the longer someone is out of work.”
