Published: 11:56 BST, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 11:59 BST, 17 August 2026
Reform UK today vowed to make long-term welfare claimants do 20 hours a week of community work – such as cleaning up high streets – in order to keep their benefits.
Robert Jenrick, the party's Treasury spokesman, unveiled plans to make benefit recipients part of 'alarm clock Britain' under a 'welfare to work' scheme.
Under the proposals, those who have been out of work for more than 12 months will be made to undertake tasks organised by their local council.
This will include work to clean up high streets and parks, to staff libraries and community centres, and work with local charities, Mr Jenrick said.
'If claimants refuse to participate or fail to show up, they will face penalties,' he added. 'Let me speak plainly, if people who are capable of working refuse to, they'll get nothing. That's fair.'
It is part of a package of benefits changes that Reform claims will save taxpayers almost ÂŁ50billion in welfare spending.
The party also plans to block foreign nationals – including EU citizens with settled status in the UK – from claiming almost all kinds of benefits in the UK.
Mr Jenrick insisted that a Reform government could successfully renegotiate the Brexit deal in order to introduce such a ban for EU nationals.
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, unveiled plans to make benefit recipients part of 'alarm clock Britain' under a 'welfare to work' scheme
Mr Jenrick vowed to make long-term welfare claimants do 20 hours a week of community work – such as cleaning up high streets – in order to keep their benefits.
Speaking at a press conference in central London on Monday, Mr Jenrick outlined Reform's 'welfare to work' scheme.
'This will require long term benefits claimants, who are fit to work, to provide 20 hours a week of work for their community, organised by their local council,' he said.
'They will work to clean up high streets and parks, to beautify areas neglected, to carry out minor repairs, to staff libraries and community centres, and to perform many other tasks from an indicative list we have published today. We'll also let local charities take part.
'If claimants refuse to participate or fail to show up, they will face penalties. Let me speak plainly, if people who are capable of working refuse to, they'll get nothing. That's fair.
