Conservatives pledge 'tough love' benefit rules for under-25s

The Conservatives have said they would introduce new work requirements for under-25s claiming benefits in a "tough love" approach to youth joblessness.

Under the proposals, young people who are fit to work but have not worked for six months continuously would face new rules to qualify for payments, including daily attendance at a job centre or courses.

The party says the scheme would help tackle the almost one million people aged 16 to 24 in the UK who are not in education, employment or training, known as Neets.

But anti-poverty charity Trussell warned that people on Universal Credit can already not afford basic essentials, harming their ability to find and keep work.

Under the Tory proposals, those aged 18 to 24 who apply for Universal Credit but have not previously worked for a continuous period of six months or more, for at least 16 hours per week, would instead have to take part in a "Get to Work" scheme.

Rather than Universal Credit, they would receive a "Get to Work Allowance" paid at the same rate but requiring daily attendance at a job centre, on work experience or work readiness courses.

They would be assigned a manager and have to take part in job search workshops and interview preparation sessions.

The programme would last six months, or less if a participant secures a job - but those who are still unemployed after half a year on the scheme would have their benefit cut by 30%.

Young people on Universal Credit who have previously worked for six months, have health issues or care responsibilities would be exempt.

The party has also said it would look closer at whether parents' earnings and savings should be factored into welfare payments for their children.

However, it said young people without parental support, including those who are estranged, would continue to have a safety net.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the measures were designed to "show some tough love" to reduce the number of Neets.

"Too many young people are leaving school and signing straight onto benefits - this is a waste of their potential and a disaster for our economy," the Tory MP said.

However, Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at anti-poverty charity Trussell, said the Tory proposals were "deeply concerning".

"We've got years of evidence of the failings of a tick-box approach. Meetings with over-stretched work coaches are already too short and often do little to actually move people into training or work," she said.

"We need more meaningful, good quality support, not simply more of the same."

Under current Universal Credit requirements, people have to sign a "claimant commitment" to prepare for and look for work or increase their earnings if they are already working - but the Tories claim their rules would be stricter.

The proposals were announced on Thursday ahead of the party's annual conference starting this weekend.

Neets have been high on the agenda for political parties ahead of the imminent publication of a major report by former minister Alan Milburn on how to tackle the one-in-eight young people in the UK who not in education, employment or training.

Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: "Kemi Badenoch's Tories held young people back and caused the welfare bill to spiral.

"To pretend she's suddenly on the side of young people is frankly insulting."

At Labour's conference earlier this week, Chancellor John Healey said cutting welfare spending was a priority and announced that every mayor in England would have access to a Local Apprenticeships Service from March 2027 to generate thousands more youth opportunities.

And on Thursday, the Department for Work and Pensions said every small and medium-sized business hiring a young apprentice would get £2,000 from the government under a new scheme backed by the Federation of Small Businesses.

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