Thousands of young disabled individuals and those with long-term health conditions are set to benefit from a proposed fast-tracked approach to job support under the government’s Jobs Guarantee scheme. Alan Milburn, currently leading a review of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits system for young people, has called for severely disabled 16- to 24-year-olds, born between 2002 and 2010, to receive expedited access to benefits without having to repeatedly prove their inability to work.
Mr Milburn highlighted the distress caused to young people with the most complex needs, saying, “I’ve heard too many stories of young people with the most severe disabilities left waiting, worrying and fighting for the support they’re entitled to.” He criticised existing assessment processes as “dehumanising tick-box assessments designed to catch people out, not care for them.”
He emphasised the necessity for “a different approach” for those disabled people whose conditions are so severe that work is not possible. “By right they should get faster support rather than having to prove it over and over again to get the help they deserve.” The review’s findings are anticipated to be published in October.
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Harriet Edwards, director of influencing at disability charity Sense, welcomed the recommendation: “It would be a significant step forward for young disabled people with the most complex needs and their families, and for those who have long campaigned to end the exhausting and humiliating process of multiple assessments.”
However, she cautioned against excluding those young disabled people who wish to work, stating, “Those who want to and are able to work need specialist employment support and genuine opportunities, alongside the financial protection they need to live their lives.” Edwards stressed the importance of clear details regarding eligibility, exemptions, and coordination across different disability benefits to avoid confusion caused by navigating varying rules and assessments.
The initiative comes amid ongoing efforts by the Labour Party government to reduce the UK’s significantly high disability employment gap. Official statistics show the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) with a reported disability has doubled over the last decade.
The proposal includes a new fast track for benefit claimants as part of a £2.5 billion investment aimed at supporting nearly one million young people into employment.
James Taylor, Executive Director at disability equality charity Scope, expressed support for the scheme, recognising the barriers disabled young people face: “For too long, disabled young people have been locked out of work by barriers beyond their control. They have been overlooked when they apply for jobs, denied the support they need at work, and too often left without the opportunities they deserve.” Taylor praised the government’s financial commitment to unlocking these individuals' potential by providing appropriate adjustments, tailored support, and access to secure and lasting employment.
Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, the What Works Centre for Youth Employment, also welcomed the expansion of the Jobs Guarantee to include disabled and health-barriered young people who feel able to work with support. She pointed out that these young people are disproportionately represented within NEET statistics and face increasing difficulties entering suitable employment. Yong underlined the need for targeted wage subsidies combined with wraparound support, highlighting evidence from their Youth Employment Toolkit which shows such approaches can be highly effective for young people facing the greatest employment barriers.