The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of 'making mugs of millions' of taxpayers after investigations revealed Universal Credit claimants receive discounted rounds of golf and access to various attractions.
Perks Include Discounted Drinks and Spa Treatments
A probe by The Sun newspaper found that those on the taxpayer-funded benefit are being given 'ridiculous' perks. The Telegraph also discovered that claimants can receive concessions for drinks at bars, massages, and eyebrow treatments.
Additional Discounts for Jobless Claimants
Discounts also extend to football matches, comedy clubs, cinemas, saunas, and spas. The Sun report warned: 'Millions of workers are being made mugs of by the £333billion welfare system subsidising spa days and booze for claimants.'
Political Backlash
Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told The Sun: 'The Government has lost its nerve trying to get welfare under control. When you add this ridiculous stuff to it, it’s a massive disincentive to work.' Writing in The Telegraph, he said an 'ever-growing list of freebies, relaxed work-search rules and online assessments are all wreaking havoc on the system while costing taxpayers a fortune'.
Lee Anderson MP, Reform’s welfare spokesman, said: 'What’s the point in getting out of bed in the morning? Freebie Britain has spiralled out of control and a welfare culture has taken hold. Hard-working families get hit with higher taxes in order to pay for people on benefits who get cheaper drinks out, discounted spa days and to go white water rafting.'
Government Response
A Labour Party government spokesman said: 'We’re clear that households in work should be consistently better off than households on benefits alone. As we bear down on the cost of living, we’re supporting people into good, secure jobs by undertaking the biggest employment reforms in a generation, overhauling Jobcentres and working with employers to deliver our Jobs Guarantee, ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn.'
