Proposed changes to health-related Universal Credit for under-22s have sparked a furious warning from charities, who say vulnerable young people could be pushed further into poverty.
Charities have warned that proposed changes to disability benefits could leave thousands of young people struggling to make ends meet, as they urged ministers to abandon what they called “punitive” approaches to welfare reform.
More than 40 organisations, including Action for Children, Shelter, the Trussell Trust, Scope, Save the Children and Barnardo’s, have written to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and welfare adviser Alan Milburn.
The groups said they accepted that the welfare system needed reform but argued that changes should focus on helping young people into education, training and work rather than cutting financial support.
The warning centres on a proposal first put forward for consultation under the previous government which would delay access to the health element of Universal Credit until claimants reach the age of 22.
Figures showed there were 66,000 people aged 18 to 21 in the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity category in September 2024.
Research by disability charity Scope has estimated that 94% of households with a young person under 22 receiving the Universal Credit health element would be in poverty if the support was removed.
Almost half - 49% - of those households are already living in poverty, according to the analysis, while removing the benefit from existing claimants could push another 45% below the poverty line.
The charities said that by March, 184,000 people aged 16 to 24 across the UK were receiving the Universal Credit health element.
They warned these young people can have severe and complex needs, including multiple physical and mental health conditions, while some also face poverty, homelessness and childhood trauma.
For families caring for young people at home, the benefit can help cover living costs and care arrangements, while those living independently or in supported accommodation may rely on it for basic expenses.
The charities also warned that some claimants are in education and could struggle to remain there if their income was cut.
DWP is about to roll out a huge change to PIP decisions, before they've even checked if it's safe. Please sign before it's too late: https://t.co/x4xEVP5ebV
— Ellen Marie 75 🦋 (@jaysmyweakness) August 26, 2026
Lucy Schonegevel, from Action for Children, said: “If ministers want better outcomes for disabled young people, the evidence points to earlier intervention, tailored support and genuinely meaningful job and volunteering opportunities, not sanctions or cuts.”
James Taylor, from Scope, said: “Any cuts to the health element of universal credit will only push more young disabled people into poverty, not jobs.”
He added: “It won’t remove the barriers they face getting into and staying in work, such as inaccessible recruitment, negative attitudes or a lack of tailored support.”
The intervention comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruled out “crude cuts” to benefits but said the Government needed to “get really serious” about reducing the welfare bill.
He has also said young people have been “quite seriously let down” by a lack of support into work and indicated he wanted to increase the conditions attached to benefits.
The charities said: “Cutting benefits worsens health and deepens poverty, while strict conditionality and sanctions is particularly counterproductive and harmful for disabled people.”
A Government spokesperson said ministers wanted young people to fulfil their potential through education, training or work.
They said the Government was pressing ahead with major youth employment reforms aimed at creating almost one million opportunities, alongside a £2.5 billion youth employment support package.
Recommended reading :
- M&S brings back iconic St Michael label in major fashion collaboration
- Costa brings back Maple Hazel menu and Grillbert and Hazel plushies steal the show
- Pensioners given urgent warning over DWP State Pension payments this week
The Government has also commissioned Alan Milburn to examine the barriers preventing young people from entering work, with his final report expected in the autumn.
The row comes as Reform UK separately unveiled plans for long-term benefit claimants to clean up their local high streets or risk losing benefits.
The party's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said the proposals formed part of a wider package of welfare changes which he claimed could cut £50 billion from the benefits
Share