The government has announced plans to exclude under-22s with long-term illnesses or disabilities from claiming a health top-up on universal credit. Work Secretary Liz Kendall described the reforms as a means to achieve “fairness” for long-term sick and disabled individuals. Currently, around 66,000 individuals aged 18 to 21 are claiming this benefit.
The money saved from stopping these payments will be reinvested into training programs for young people. At present, individuals over 18 but under the state pension age in England, Wales, and Scotland can receive incapacity benefits in addition to universal credit if the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) assesses them as too sick to work. However, a new DWP paper proposes raising the minimum age for these benefits to 22.
The paper also suggests increasing the eligibility age for the adult disability benefit from 18.
Government considers raising benefit age
The government is seeking feedback on these proposals before the end of June.
These reforms would not automatically affect Northern Ireland, where benefits policies are devolved. Nonetheless, the Stormont government often adopts changes introduced in England and Wales. The government aims to cut spending by reducing the number of people on incapacity benefits, which is projected to reach a record high by the end of the decade.
The recent rise in worse mental health since the pandemic and a higher retirement age has led some individuals to claim incapacity benefits instead of working. Labor leader Keir Starmer commented, “I am not prepared to stand back and do nothing while millions of people – especially young people – who have the potential to work and live independent lives, instead become trapped out of work and abandoned by the system.”
However, Disability Rights UK warned that barring under-22s from claiming the health element of universal credit, coupled with increased assessments, represents “dangerous cuts for all disabled people.” The charity argued that the reforms are “not about supporting disabled people into work but making brutal and reckless cuts.
The government’s benefit package overhaul has sparked significant debate. Disability advocates argue the cuts could have severe repercussions for young disabled individuals.
The consultation period for these proposed changes remains open until the end of June.
Image Credits: Photo by Yomex Owo on Unsplash
