The government has announced plans to exclude people under the age of 22 with long-term illnesses or disabilities from claiming a health top-up on universal credit. This measure, announced by Work Secretary Liz Kendall, is part of a broader overhaul of the benefits system aimed at saving £5bn a year by 2030. Currently, individuals over 18 but under the state pension age in England, Wales, and Scotland can receive incapacity benefits on top of universal credit if assessed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as too sick to work.
However, a recent DWP paper proposed raising the minimum age for these benefits to 22. Around 66,000 people aged 18 to 21 are currently claiming this benefit. The government proposes reinvesting the money saved by stopping these payments into training programs for young people.
Excluding under-22s from incapacity benefits
Kendall emphasized that the reforms aim to ensure “fairness” for all long-term sick and disabled individuals. However, disability advocacy groups have strongly opposed the cuts, labeling them “dangerous.” Disability Rights UK stated that barring under-22s from claiming the health element of universal credit, alongside increased assessments, represents “brutal and reckless cuts.”
The reforms are part of the government’s effort to cut spending by reducing the number of people on incapacity benefits, which is projected to hit a record high by the end of the decade.
Factors contributing to the rise include deteriorating mental health since the pandemic and an increasing state pension age, which has led some individuals to claim incapacity benefits instead. Keir Starmer expressed concern, saying, “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, become trapped out of work and abandoned by the system.”
While these changes would not automatically affect Northern Ireland due to its devolved responsibility for benefits, the Stormont government usually aligns itself with the changes introduced in England and Wales. The key changes in the welfare shake-up include raising the minimum age to claim incapacity benefits from 18 to 22, reinforcing eligibility criteria for disability payments, and reducing benefits for certain health conditions.
The government is seeking feedback on these proposals before finalizing any changes. The consultation period will run until the end of June.
Image Credits: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
