Government urged not to cut Universal Credit for young care leavers

A cross-party parliamentary committee has formally urged the UK Government not to reduce the entitlement to Universal Credit for young care leavers aged under 22, following its wider review of children’s social care.

Approximately 83,630 children in England were looked-after in 2024 (an increase of more than 20 % since 2014) and research by Barnardo’s and other organisations has found that care leavers under 25 who claim Universal Credit receive the same standard allowance as other under-25s, even though they are more likely to lack family support and face greater independent living costs.

The Department for Education (DfE) responded that “no decisions have yet been made” and that consultation feedback will be taken into account. 

The Committee Chair, Helen Hayes MP, said:

“A central theme of our report was that the Government must do all it can to support young care leavers, whose prospects are sadly far worse than their peers. Any cut in the financial support they get would be unthinkable. Ministers should offer a cast iron guarantee that it will not cut Universal Credit to under 22s who have been in care.” .