Universal Credit claimants are receiving discounted rounds on the golf course and kayaking lessons as part of numerous freebie benefits provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
A recent probe into the primary benefit payment for working-age people has uncovered, what critics claim, are “ridiculous” perks attached to welfare support.
Among those qualifying for such perks are individuals on low incomes, people unable to work due to illness, and those with disabilities.
Previous revelations showed claimants in the capital could access reduced entry to attractions including the Cutty Sark and Hampton Court Palace, whilst Portsmouth residents were offered cheaper beach hut rentals.
Universal Credit freebie benefits are under fire
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In Portsmouth, residents receiving the standard monthly payment of £338 for single adults over 25 can obtain the city’s Leisure Card at no cost, granting them 40 per cent reductions at Great Salterns Golf Course, bringing a round down from £28 to £16.80.
Over in Labour-controlled Ealing in west London, benefit recipients can purchase a leisure card for £6 annually, unlocking half-price golf at £15.50 per round, The Sun reports.
Meanwhile, Bradford claimants paying just £3 yearly for their Leisure Card gain access to discounted water activities at Doe Park, including kayaking at £9.30 rather than the standard £11.70, alongside reduced boat hire rates.
The number of Universal Credit claimants has now reached 8.4 million, representing an increase of one million compared to the same period last year, official figures reveal.
Universal Credit is the primary out-of-work benefit administered by the DWP | GETTY
There were 8.3 million people in Britain overall receiving Universal Credit in October | PA
Half of all recipients currently face no work requirements, whilst households with children make up 45 per cent of those receiving payments.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that Britain’s jobless rate has climbed to 5.2 per cent, the highest level recorded since 2021.
Speaking to Newspage, Riz Malik, the director at R3 Wealth, warned that public finances are being stretched to breaking point.
He said: “A weakening labour market will inevitably push more people towards state support, adding pressure to already stretched public finances.”
Who is claiming Universal Credit? Full ethnicity breakdown REVEALED as number of claimants jumps by a MILLION | DWP
Mr Malik cautioned that without appropriate monetary and fiscal intervention, confidence could deteriorate rapidly, raising the prospect of a more severe and extended economic downturn.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith condemned the arrangements, stating: “The Government has lost its nerve trying to get welfare under control.
The ex-DWP minister added: “When you add this ridiculous stuff to it, it’s a massive disincentive to work.”
In a statement, the DWP said: “We’re clear that households in work should be consistently better off than households on benefits alone.”