Some claimants will have to work longer after January 30 in order to continue receiving their full payment. The policy, known as the administration earnings threshold (AET), determines which work group UC claimants are assigned to and whether they need to look for more work.
The ‘light touch’ group is exempt from having to look for work in order to receive benefits and has less contact with the JobCentre. To receive their money, the ‘intensive group’ must work or look for work for a set number of hours. To get their money, UC claimants must work 12 hours or less at the national minimum wage and meet with a work coach.