The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under renewed pressure to help 100,000 young people who have been claiming Universal Credit since they turned 18 secure employment. Recent figures reveal that 124,164 individuals aged 25 and under have been receiving the benefit every month since turning 18.
Alarming Statistics
DWP data indicates that 8,813 people aged 25 have been on Universal Credit for seven consecutive years. All are currently unemployed, with 6,645 having no requirement to seek work. Additionally, 17,600 21-year-olds have claimed for three years, 14,800 22-year-olds for four years, and 15,886 23-year-olds for five years.
Call for Action
Former Labour MP Alan Milburn has urged the government to act, describing the situation as a "catastrophic systems failure." He praised initiatives like Labour's youth guarantee but questioned who is coordinating efforts to ensure young people have opportunities to earn or learn. "It can’t be right that young people who want to work are not being supported to do so," Milburn said.
He emphasized the need for welfare reform focused on participation rather than cost-cutting. "If you frame welfare reform through a cost-out lens, guess what you get?" he asked. Milburn also challenged assumptions about disability, stating that a diagnosis should not limit aspirations.
Government Response
A DWP spokesperson defended the system, noting that Universal Credit supports both employed and unemployed claimants. They acknowledged inheriting a "broken welfare system" with 250,000 more young people out of opportunity before summer 2024. The government's £2.5 billion youth employment support package aims to create nearly a million opportunities and rebalance Universal Credit to remove disincentives to work.
