Reform UK vows to make long-term benefits claimants do 20 hours community work a week - as Jenrick says party will renegotiate Brexit deal to cut benefits for EU citizens

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 11:56, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 11:59, 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 £50billion 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. 'How can it be that one family on a street, with working parents, strive and work hard, only to help fund the lifestyle of another who chooses to not bother with work at all? 'This isn't just an aberration, a small number of isolated cases to be dismissed as a triviality. 'It is an epidemic that has been allowed to take hold across the country, and spread into a full blown national crisis. 'My message today to those taking everyone else for mugs: under a Reform government it's going to stop. 'Instead, if they are asking their neighbours to fund their lifestyle while they choose to stay out of work, they can give back something in return. 'If they want to do something else, they can find a job. No more 'something for nothing', but security for contribution. They will become part of 'alarm clock Britain'.'