Downing Street is considering extending a benefits overhaul to working-age people over 25, combining greater help with finding work and training with cuts to some disability-related support, according to The Guardian. This remains an option under discussion, not a government decision or a change to existing rules.
The newspaper’s report, published on 13 November, says discussions concern extending the approach being developed for under-25s. That does not mean every measure outlined for younger people would be applied to other age groups. The discussions concern working-age adults, not pension benefits.
What is proposed for younger people?
According to The Guardian, Alan Milburn’s recommendations for under-25s would offer training and employment support instead of the health-related element of Universal Credit, the benefit that helps with living costs. Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which helps meet additional costs arising from disability or long-term health conditions, would be replaced by the option to apply to a local fund for specific short-term expenses and equipment.
Those details concern plans for the younger age group, rather than an agreed model for people over 25. They should not be taken to mean that identical changes are being proposed for older working-age adults.
Under the plans as reported, entitlement would be protected for people with the greatest needs who cannot work. That is an intended safeguard, however, rather than confirmation of the final eligibility criteria for any future system.
Different circumstances for people over 25
Extending the overhaul would require the government to take account of the different circumstances of older working-age adults. According to The Guardian, ministers recognise the importance of family and caring responsibilities, as well as more complex health needs. The report does not set out a final package of possible changes for this group or a timetable for introducing them.
A government spokesperson quoted by the newspaper said a full response would follow publication of the recommendations from the reviews led by Alan Milburn and Stephen Timms. The spokesperson also stressed the intention to maintain a safety net for those most in need and people unable to work.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation raised concerns about the proposed approach. In comments reported by The Guardian, the organisation warned that the cuts could weaken financial security for young people with disabilities or health conditions.
For benefit recipients, the key distinction is between a reform being considered and the rules currently in force. Reports of discussions in Downing Street do not themselves change entitlement to Universal Credit or PIP. Extending the overhaul to working-age people over 25 remains a possibility reported by The Guardian, not an adopted policy.
