Milburn Review Seeks Under-25 Benefit Cuts as 1 in 8 Young Britons Are Neet

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 11

Tuesday’s Milburn review will propose removing under-25s from the main sickness and disability benefits, replacing them with a basic universal credit-rate allowance and, for some, an added costs payment.
Billions of pounds in employment support would accompany the cuts, including work placements, job subsidies and one-to-one advisers, while severely disabled young people unable to work would receive a higher-rate new benefit.
Milburn said the overhaul would affect existing and new claimants and could reduce support at the start of a claim, with sanctions possible for young people who refuse to engage with work support.
Just under 1 million young people are not in education, employment or training, up 3% from a year earlier, the backdrop for a plan the government is expected to legislate next year.
Andy Burnham is likely to back the package, but Labour MPs could resist it; Milburn said rebuilding the system would require major upfront spending and savings may take nearly a decade.