{
  "id": 9418174,
  "title": "Tory welfare crackdown would ban benefit spending on alcohol and cigarettes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/tory-welfare-crackdown-would-ban-benefit-spending-on-alcohol-and",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T21:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/tories-propose-linking-benefits-to-back-to-work-spending-card/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Conservatives have unveiled a plan to restrict benefit payments for welfare recipients, prohibiting spending on alcohol, cigarettes, and betting under the 'Back To Work' card system. This move is part of a broader crackdown on the welfare system, which would result in a 30% reduction in unemployment benefits for those receiving Universal Credit for more than six months and deemed fit to work. The plan would allow claimants who have worked for two years to receive one year of the full Universal Credit rate. However, it raises concerns about fairness and effectiveness, with critics arguing that it may not significantly impact the overall welfare bill or address the issue of benefit fraud.",
  "summary": "Scores of benefit claimants would receive their welfare payments on a ‘Back To Work’ card that bans spending on alcohol, cigarettes or betting under plans announced by the Conservatives. Under a new crackdown on the welfare system, unemployed people on benefits will see their payments fall by 30 per cent. Those who are on Universal [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Conservatives propose welfare crackdown banning alcohol, cigarettes, betting",
    "30% reduction in unemployment benefits for long-term Universal Credit recipients",
    "Allowance for two-year workers to receive one year of full Universal Credit"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}