Some under-25s should get less benefits, Milburn review to say

Key Points:

• A government-commissioned review led by Alan Milburn is set to recommend removing under-25s from the main sickness and disability benefits, potentially reducing the financial support they currently receive.
• The report proposes that under-25s would no longer claim the health element of universal credit or personal independence payment (PIP), instead receiving a basic universal credit rate with possible additional allowances for condition-related costs.
• The overhaul aims to address the high number of 18- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with plans to invest billions in employment support such as work placements, job subsidies, and personal advisers.
• Milburn acknowledges the reforms could mean less immediate financial support for some young claimants but emphasizes prioritizing their long-term prospects over short-term benefits, introducing a system with both incentives and consequences.
• The proposed changes, expected to become legislation next year, may face political controversy but are framed as necessary to rebuild the welfare system and reduce youth poverty and unemployment over the next decade.