‘Writing off’ Young People

Overlaying an off-white background, the words, ‘‘Writing off’ Young People’ in bold, black text. Underneath are the words, ‘The third of a series of blogs exploring the key details of the recent government Green Paper, ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’. Underneath the text is a dark bluey-purple net with a person with long hair, wearing a dress is in mid-air, having fallen through it. Equal Lives’ logo is in the top right corner.

This is the third in a series of blogs about specific elements of the government’s ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper and the proposed cuts. Through these blogs, we aim to garner responses from our Members that we can share with MPs.

A particularly discriminatory element of the Green Paper is the proposal to delay access to the Universal Credit health element until age twenty-two.

At best, these costs will be shunted onto parents and caregivers. In many cases, however, one of the most vulnerable groups in society - teens and young adults without caregivers to absorb the cost - will be left with no support at all.

Disabled people already face much higher rates of domestic, caregiver and institutional abuse than non-disabled people. Young people with disabilities will be pushed into greater precarity and it is likely that many will be coerced into dangerous and illegal means of survival.

We refute the notion being peddled by ministers, that access to disability benefits is ‘writing off’ a generation of young people. This rhetoric is rooted in the nonsensical trope that young Disabled people frequently encounter, that they're 'too young to be Disabled’.

Do you know what is writing off young people? Having all the data on child poverty and still choosing to plunge at least 50,000 children into poverty with these cuts, as the government’s own Impact Assessment reveals. It’s unjustifiable. Poverty only worsens health outcomes and shortens life expectancy.

This proposal is being consulted on, so we encourage our members to respond to the consultation and tell them what you think about this.

Are you a young person who will be affected by this proposal? If so, how do you feel being told that access to disability benefits is ‘writing off’ your future?

Do you feel removing Universal Credit based on your young age is discriminatory?

Do you have a parent/caregiver to help absorb the loss or will you be placed in a more vulnerable situation?

Are you the parent or guardian of a young person in receipt of the Universal Credit health element? If so, how do you feel about this proposal? How will this impact your household budget?

Please email us at communications@equallives.org.uk. We will anonymise your submissions and send them to every MP in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Same motif as the first graphic, but with the words, ‘At best, these costs will be shunted onto parents and caregivers. In many cases, however, one of the most vulnerable groups in society - teens and young adults without caregivers to absorb the cost - will be left with no support at all’.