Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the mandatory offer of support to people in the light touch conditionality regime will begin.

We are committed to ensuring that people in work look for more and better work. That’s not only good for the country and the economy, it is good for someone to move off benefits– improving life prospects, mental and physical health, and providing new skills.

At Spring Budget we announced the AET rise to the equivalent of 18 hours at the National Living Wage. This will bring the lower earners who would have been impacted by the mandatory offer into a higher level of conditionality.

Claimants earning above the Administrative Earnings Threshold in the Light Touch Group currently have access to a voluntary In Work Progression offer. This will now become mandatory in 2024.