Under-25s with ADHD or anxiety set to see £217 a month disability benefits axed

Résumé détaillé

Instead of the health element of Universal Credit, young people without severe work-limiting disabilities could be offered education, training and employment support ...

Young people aged under 25 without severe disabilities could be offered employment support instead of £217 a month of Universal Credit under plans for a historic change to Britain’s benefits system.

Youth employment chief Alan Milburn will publish his long-awaited report about youth employment next week, where he will recommend that Prime Minister Andy Burnham design a completely new and targeted social security system for young people.

It is part of Labour’s ambition to put “work over welfare” for young people and make it harder for them to be signed off for health reasons.

Instead of the health element of Universal Credit (UCH), which is worth £217 a month to new claimants, young people without severe work-limiting disabilities could be offered education, training and employment support to make sure that they do not end up signed off.

There are currently 260,000 young people receiving UCH, according to independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. There is no requirement for them to engage with support to help them move closer to work, education or training.

Last week, while on a visit to Denmark to study their social security system, McFadden told The i Paper that he thought there was “merit” in Milburn’s idea of creating an entirely “distinct” system for young people. However, he suggested that he was undecided and open to discussion about the age range it would accommodate.

Burnham, Milburn and McFadden have all talked up the importance of “employment support” over unemployment benefits for young people, older job seekers and people with disabilities and health conditions.

However, they have also all suggested that moving to a European-style system where people are supported via subsidised job schemes could mean Labour has to spend money on reform before they can reduce Britain’s overall welfare bill.

McFadden and Burnham are agreed that the plan will require investment up front.

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