"You Get 840,000 Won a Month Without Working"… UK in Uproar as 1 Million More Claim Benefits in a Year

More Young People in the UK Exempt from Job-Seeking Requirements
Proportion of Under-30s Exempt Surpasses 10% in 41 Regions

In the United Kingdom, there has been a significant increase in the number of young people receiving welfare benefits without being required to seek work, sparking calls for reform of the system.

Overseas scenery. Unrelated stock photo. Pixabay

According to The Sun on May 9 (local time), 662,000 people aged 18 to 29 in the UK are currently receiving Universal Credit (UC). UC is a welfare benefit aimed at supporting low-income individuals and the unemployed, paying up to 420 pounds (approximately 840,000 won) per month.

There are 41 regions where over 10% of people under 30 receiving UC are exempt from job-seeking requirements. Hartlepool ranked the highest at 15.4%, with Blackpool and Thanet in Kent also among the top areas. Rotherham and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk were also included in the top ten.

The number of people not working due to health issues has now reached about 2.8 million, an increase of 800,000 compared to 2019. This figure was released after former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the Labour Party to restrict new claims for benefits related to conditions such as ADHD and anxiety disorders.

Currently, there are 8.4 million UC recipients, an increase of 1 million in just one year. In addition, rising claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are fueling concerns over fiscal burdens and a shrinking workforce.

A think tank associated with former Prime Minister Blair has warned that the surging number of welfare benefit claims could lead to an economic downturn. Dr. Charlotte Relfsham of the Tony Blair Institute said, "The system is pulling too many people into long-term dependence, even in cases where treatment is possible and work can be combined. This is neither good for the country nor for people’s health."

Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith also criticized the large number of claims due to depression and anxiety, stating, "These issues can be addressed by working and finding something to do," and added, "The whole system remains abnormal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.