DWP set to snatch Universal Credit from claimants born in these three years

The Department for Work and Pensions could axe Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment for people who are born in a three-year period. A new Back to Work push from the Labour Party government could see benefits scrapped for some.

A plan will see a new partnership with local councils and mayors who will be tasked with helping those aged 18 to 21 who are either unemployed or on sickness leave to either find a job or training as part of a "youth guarantee". Liz Kendall, the new work and pensions secretary, has confirmed that a new government white paper "Get Britain Working" will be published soon.

It will seek to address the problems of "today, tomorrow and beyond" paying attention to "the wider issues – like health, skills, childcare and transport – that determine whether people get work, stay in work and get on in work".

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It would impact benefits claimants who claim benefits and were born between 2003 and 2006, it has been reported. The government has reported that 2.8 million people are out of work due to ill health or disability and one in eight young people are not in education, employment or work. Its long term ambition is to reach an 80% employment rate, with better quality of work and higher earnings.

"The fundamental problem we face is that the current system of employment support is designed to address the problems of yesterday – not today, tomorrow and beyond," Ms Kendall said. "She will say over the last 14 years the DWP has focused almost entirely on the benefits system, and specifically on implementing Universal Credit, and that “nowhere near enough attention has been paid to the wider issues – like health, skills, childcare and transport – that determine whether people get work, stay in work and get on in work."

Before the general election, Labour promised to introduce “a new Youth Guarantee which will make sure young people are either earning or learning”. The party said it stood ready to take “the tough action necessary” to boost the career prospects of young people.

The Secretary of State has told MPs that the "youth guarantee" is for "finding those who are already not in education, employment or training, join up the support and bring them back in".