Badenoch proposes welfare reform that would stop many jobless under-25s getting universal credit – UK politics live

Tories suggest ‘tough love’ approach amid issue of one million young people not in employment, education or training The Conservatives have also hinted that they might cut the benefits available to young people if they are living at home and their parents can support them. They are not giving many details, but this is potentially quite a big change to the way the benefits system works. At the moment young people’s eligibility for benefits depends on their own earnings and assets; if their parents can afford to subsidise them, that is not taken into account. The Conservative party says: The Get to Work Allowance will also put greater emphasis on family responsibility. We will review the role of family support for young adults living at home. A university student’s access to financial support can depend on their parents’ circumstances, yet the rules for young adults claiming benefits work differently. So we will look again at how parents’ earnings and savings are treated, including where parents themselves claim universal credit. Young people without parental support, including those who are estranged, will continue to have a safety net. For the first time ever, work requirements and support will kick in immediately, as soon as a young person makes a benefits claim. Each young person will also be assigned an individual Get to Work Manager whose job it will be to make sure they get into work. Each young person will need to complete assigned work activities to get their Get to Work Allowance each week. Activities will depend on the young person’s qualifications, experience and motivation. For instance: Continue reading...