Universal Credit was designed to simplify the benefits system with a focus on helping people into work and supporting their in-work progression.
Universal Credit provides those who are under 25 with lower rates than those over the age of 25 to reflect the fact that these claimants are more likely to live in someone else’s household and have lower living costs. It also reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive. However, it is acknowledged that some claimants under 25 do live independently and all claimants have different needs. This is why Universal Credit includes separate elements to provide support to claimants towards additional costs, such as housing costs.
However, the Government is committed to delivering targeted support for all young people, no matter what their start in life or the challenges they face, to give them the best chance of getting into and progressing in work.
The Department for Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored work coach support to young people aged 16 to 24. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. The Government's Kickstart scheme, which came to an end in September 2022, also created new jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who were at risk of long-term unemployment. Over 163,000 jobs were started by young people under the Kickstart Scheme.
Furthermore, I know that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has committed over £650 million to councils in England through the Homelessness Prevention Grant to help them prevent homelessness, including youth homelessness. Since 2018/19, the Department for Education has also provided funding to local authorities with the highest number of care leavers at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping. This funding continues to provide targeted support to young people leaving care most at risk of homelessness.
I hope this reassures you that supporting young people is a key priority and is certainly something I will continue to champion in Parliament.