Almost 400,000 have had benefits suspended in the last year alone

The number of benefit payments suspended since a tougher regime was introduced last year has increased by 11 per cent, figures show.

The Department for Work and Pensions said jobseeker’s allowance claimants who failed to do enough to find work, turned down jobs, or have not turned up to appointments had their payments suspended 580,000 times between October 2012 and June.

Just under 400,000 individuals were involved.