Just under a million young people are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

The inadequacy in welfare means young people are cutting back on food, skipping meals, and going without essentials to keep up with everyday costs. The basic rate of Universal Credit (UC) is just £78 per week for single people under 25.

The NEETs crisis of young people not earning or learning is a symptom of economic failures that are placing greater pressure on public services, including the social security system. Joseph Rowntree Foundation evidence shows that tackling the root causes is both effective and popular with the public.

The Starmer government set out a proposal to make under 22s ineligible for the health element of universal credit. This government should reject cuts to benefits. Instead, it should focus on the support that will help NEETs sustainably move into work and / or learning.

Sam Tims, lead analyst at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said:

Nearly a million young people not earning or learning is the result of an economy that leaves young people behind, creates too few opportunities, and particularly fails those growing up in poverty. It speaks to a lack of support for young people to move forward with their lives.

Not only does growing up in persistent poverty more than triple the risk of being out of work or learning, inadequate income also prevents people from being able to move back into learning or earning.

The Milburn review must be a turning point for the support offered to young people, with Government not repeating past mistakes, like cutting incomes and imposing ever more punitive sanctions that failed to improve outcomes.

Featured image via the Canary

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