The government has today suspended all Jobcentre appointments for three months due to coronavirus.
People receiving benefits do not have to attend a Jobcentre in person for “at least” three months, starting today.
A DWP spokesman said: “People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the jobcentre in person are suspended.
“People can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible.
“Jobcentres remain open, and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones and online, including homeless people.”
The move means far fewer people will be sanctioned, as a big reason for having benefits stopped is failing to attend a Jobcentre appointment.
It also comes two days after face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability welfare payments were also suspended for three months to protect vulnerable claimants.
But campaigners want the government to go further, because telephone or paper-based assessments may still go ahead.
Campaigners demanded the government halt all benefit reassessments of disabled people already in the system.
Ayaz Manji of mental health charity Mind added: “It’s a time where particularly now disabled people shouldn’t be experiencing shocks to their income.
“And we have an assessment process which is very unreliable.
“There is a strong case for suspending those reviews altogether in the near future so we can safeguard people during this time.”
Meanwhile, campaigners have urged the basic rate of Universal Credit to be raised to £100 a week to help people hit by Covid-19.
The move was proposed by the Resolution Foundation think tank this morning.
Ministers are in urgent talks with unions to announce a package of measures to help at-risk workers either tomorrow or Saturday.
Treasury minister John Glen told MPs: “We’re aware of the proposals that have been put forward by various think tanks this morning.
“We are looking thoroughly at all these options.”
For more information visit the DWP’s coronavirus website.
