Proposed changes for Under 22 ages - PIP, UC, LWCRA

Kindness

Hi !
Since the government announced their proposed changes, I'm not reading anything about under 22s not being eligible for any disability payment. I havent been able to find any groups who are fighting against it with petitions etc. I have seen petitions about the other proposals and have signed them, but the age criteria is not mentioned in them. I think the blanket under 22 rule is age discrimination and it seems illogical - how can the government say PIP and LWCRA are no longer eligible just because of age? This is BAD!

If you can signpost me on Scope or to other places that would be helpful. I need to know that this problem is being represented and fought against. It's stressful. Thank you.

Kindness

Kimi87

The previous Government also ended younger age access to ESA.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Kindness, I haven't seen any specific petitions for this issue on its own, but it does form part of what Scope are fighting against with their campaigns. Scope are challenging the cuts and changes as a whole so as you say, other charities may have it covered but under their blanket campaigning on the whole Green Paper.

As far as I'm aware, young people aged 18 and above will still have access to PIP if they're eligible. The changes proposed are to remove the eligibility for the health elements from those under 22 claiming Universal Credit. Many will still be losing much-needed income which is really worrying.

There's an article here from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that mentions how the cuts might affect young people:

Young people caught in crosshairs of health and disability reforms | Joseph Rowntree Foundation

I've also seen it mentioned on a couple of different charities websites where they have more of a focus on young people such as care leavers, fostering networks, or charities for families of disabled children. Contact (a charity for families with disabled children) is one of these that has specifically picked up on the issue and asked for people to email their MPs:

Help us stop Universal Credit cuts for disabled young adults

Kindness

Rosie, thank you for your reply. This was exactly the info that I was looking for. It tells me a bit more about the proposals and has a petition and a link for a letter to MP specifically for this age group. Thank you so much!

Contact states clearly how the proposed threshold for exemption is currently too high:

The Green Paper acknowledges that the government needs to “consider what special provisions need to be put in place for those young people where engagement with work or training is not a realistic prospect”.  

In a speech last week (21 May), the Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, said: 

“Those with the most severe, life-long conditions that will never improve and who can never work will have their Universal Credit protected – including young people aged under 22.”

However, this extremely high threshold offers very little protections for most young disabled adults.

Ultimately, Contact does not accept that there is any justification for slashing financial support for any young disabled person aged 16 – 21."

Rosie_Scope

No problem at all @Kindness, glad it was helpful ☺️