Concerns Raised Over Proposed Cuts to Universal Credit Health Element
UKPulse Consumer Desk
Reports suggest the government is considering removing the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25, prompting alarm among families and charities.
- The government is reportedly considering removing the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25.
- Over 40 charities have urged ministers not to remove financial support from disabled young people.
- Ministers have stated that those with the most severe disabilities would be protected, but criteria for eligibility are currently unknown.
Reports indicate the government is considering removing the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25. This proposal has caused alarm for families, raising concerns about how disabled young people will be supported and able to participate in daily life.
Contact, a charity, hears from families worried about the impact of universal credit on disabled family members. Some recipients of the health element are studying, working part-time, or volunteering, while others have disabilities that prevent paid employment.
More than 40 charities, including Contact, have urged ministers against removing financial support from disabled young people. While sharing the government's ambition for young people to work and thrive, they do not believe removing financial security will create these opportunities.
Ministers have said that individuals with the most severe disabilities would be protected. However, families are reportedly still unaware of the criteria that would apply or the difficulty in proving eligibility.
Why this matters: The potential removal of the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25 could significantly impact the financial security and daily lives of many young disabled individuals and their families.
What this means for you: If you are a disabled person under 25 receiving the universal credit health element, or a family member of someone who is, this proposed change could affect your financial support. The specific criteria for protection for those with severe disabilities are not yet known.