The proposed changes to Universal Credit’s health element could stop thousands from being able to claim the benefit
One proposal in the government’s welfare reform would prevent people under the age of 22 from claiming the health element of Universal Credit, also known as the Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activities element. Currently, people need to be at least 18 years old to claim and around 66,000 people between 18 and 22 are receiving the DWP payments.
There is no set date for this proposal to be implemented, although it could come into force in 2027 or 2028 if the proposal is approved. This change was consulted on in the Pathways to Work green paper earlier this year and more details are expected in the near future.
Questioning this proposal, Labour MP Dr Scott Arthur questioned why this proposal had been put forward. He wrote: “To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to publish the decision-making process behind the proposal to restrict access to the Universal Credit Health Element for under-22s.”
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, explained that the main driver behind this proposal was to encourage young people into work by removing the benefit that could be disincentivising it.
He wrote: “The reasoning for this proposal, set out in the Pathways to Work green paper published in March, is the removal of a potential disincentive to work and the possibility that resources may be better spent on improving the quality and range of opportunities available to young people through the Youth Guarantee.
“We welcomed views on raising the age someone can access the Universal Credit health element to 22 as part of our Green Paper consultation, which closed on 30 June. We are considering responses and will set out our plans in due course.”
This isn’t the only proposed change to Universal Credit that could affect younger claimants. The Universal Credit Bill will be introduced in a number of shifts next April.
The Bill will reduce the amount of the Universal Credit health element that new claimants can get. This will be cut nearly in half, with current claimants receiving £97 a week and new claimants after next April will only receive £47 per week.
The health element will also be at this rate for new claimants until 2029/2030. Usually, benefit payments increase each April in line with inflation. Terminally ill patients and people who meet the severe conditions criteria won’t be affected by the freeze.
The severe conditions criteria cover people who have a permanent, medically recognised condition or disability that prevents them from doing work, and a doctor has confirmed the condition is unlikely to improve. The criteria is being introduced in order to avoid people who have no foreseeable ability to work from being reassessed.