Government considers removing Universal Credit health payment for under-25s

About 184,000 young people receive the payment; the DWP says no decision has been made.

Daily Alba · 2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Illustrative image of an empty employment office. Illustrative image, not a photograph of the reported event.

Ministers are reported to be considering scrapping the Universal Credit health element for 16 to 24-year-olds, worth £217 a month for many claimants.

Alternatives

Officials are discussing subsidised jobs, tailored back-to-work schemes and extra mental health support instead.

No final decision

The Department for Work and Pensions stresses no decision has been taken. More than 40 charities have warned that cuts would push vulnerable young people deeper into poverty.

Scotland

Universal Credit is reserved and applies in Scotland.

Source & attribution: This original report is based on Particle (summarising UK reports), published 2 October 2026. This is not independent on-the-ground reporting.