Can Burnham avoid another Labour welfare rebellion?
Summary
Alan Milburn is expected to recommend reducing benefits for some 16- to 24-year-olds who receive Personal Independence Payment or an enhanced health-related Universal Credit payment. Labour MPs appear more open to the proposals than they were to last year’s welfare reforms, in part because the plan would include support for jobs and training and limit benefit changes to people under 25.Key Facts
- Milburn has spent a year reviewing how to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training.
- Last year, 120 Labour MPs threatened to oppose welfare reforms, and 49 ultimately voted against the government.
- Keir Starmer guaranteed that existing Personal Independence Payment claimants would not lose out under last year’s reforms.
- People under 25 make up about 11% of Personal Independence Payment claimants.
- The proposed changes are expected to include upfront support for unemployed young people, including jobs and training.
- Milburn may recommend enhanced payments for people who cannot work and an additional living-cost allowance for some young disabled people who lose Personal Independence Payment.
- Labour MPs’ support for benefit reductions may depend on the full package of recommendations, which could cover policies from preschool provision to NHS mental health care.
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