Opposition is growing to plans to take housing benefit away from young people next month.
Those aged between 18 and 21 will no longer qualify for housing benefit, and this housing element of Universal Credit will be removed, affecting young people in private rented sector homes such as house-shares.
It means that fewer people under 21 would have access to the private rented sector.
There will be a few exemptions, including those who would be at a significant risk of harm if they had to live at home.
However, homeless organisations and others say that these do not go far enough and that between 9,000 and 11,000 young people could be at risk of homelessness in just a few weeks’ time.
Labour shadow housing minister John Healey said the cut was disgraceful, and many young people could end up on the streets.
“These young people are old enough to fight for their country,” he said.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We want to make sure that 18 to 21-year-olds do not slip straight into a life on benefits.”
But the Residential Landlords Association called on the Government to back down on its plans.
It said it had surveyed over 1,000 landlords and that 76% said the measure would leave under-21s unable to pay rent, making landlords less willing to let property to this age group.
RLA vice-shairman Chris Town said: “Rented housing is crucial to enabling young people to quickly access work and education opportunities. By making it more difficult for them to secure rental properties, ministers are making such prospects increasingly difficult for them.”
Generation Rent yesterday tweeted: “If you’ve angry about the government’s Making Teenagers Homeless policy, there’s a march being planned on 1 April.”
What a stupid stupid stupid policy.
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Sorry typo. Meant to be at least five more ‘stupid’s up there
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Labour shadow housing minister John Healey said the cut was disgraceful, and many young people could end up on the streets.
“These young people are old enough to fight for their country,” he said.
If only they did that – they wouldn’t be on benefits!
It’s going to be tough for them – however it’s important to note that this age group 18-21 is the prime time for people to decide whether they want a career at work or a career of claiming benefits. If we can show 18-21 year olds that if they want something they have to work for it – then the country would be in a much better place.
Tough love.
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Bit harsh.
Number of vulnerable people in society some did not have the best start in life and some do not have the support of family.
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It is a bit harsh, and there will always be exceptional circumstances.
What I would say is that the system is broken and there needs to be changes to make it harder for people to chose a life on the doll from an early age.
It is all too easy for young people to accept money for nothing and think the world owes it to them. That is not the case. While we are handing out money to everyone ‘who cant get a job’ and giving them a house for free – those who are really in need lose out.
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I am the first to admit the benefits system in the country needs a complete rewrite – Yes it should be an insurance not a career choice.
But stopping housing benefit for all 18 – 21 year olds except exceptional circumstances, its a bit too extreme in my opinion.
Also what happens in the PRS with 18/19 year olds already on HB, If that is switched off overnight where do landlords stand?
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I hope my comments are not too controversial but I do see a high level of enquiries from young persons just wishing to move out of their family home to ‘get a place of their own’. These people are not working and thus will start a life on benefits.
There will always be exceptions, but I remember as a teen that you put yourself into employment before you thought about renting or buying your own home.
This will affect parts of my business as we rent apartments to young people on benefits, but this is done with the financial support of their families, assisted by housing benefit.
This will take time to filter through to the young people of today, but it is important to realise that you have to work for the things that you want.
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Firstly, I respect others opinions whether they mirror mine or not.
Mine may not be a very politically correct opinion, but we are now seem to be able to put our heads above the parapet without getting it shot off.
It is my view that the benefit policy has created a generation of takers. Whilst one can always point to genuine heart felt situations, these make up a small percentage and our country simply cannot afford to give continuously give ‘something for nothing’.
A bit of tough lough love for the young is what’s required. As adults, we have to stand on our own two feet and work hard for our futures. The sooner that message becomes the ‘PC’ one the better the future for the future generations.
Lowering my head now!!
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I was on the dole for six months a few years back. It was a tough time and I was probably applying to a new job every day.
Long story short, I spent a lot of time in my local job centre and I have to admit you are correct, James. These kids and young adults, a lot of them around my age, were slouching on in with their excuses for why they weren’t applying for jobs or taking steps to find a job or better their prospects. They grunted their way through conversations with their advisers and got shirty when they were told their efforts didn’t warrant the money they were receiving.
It was easier to do nothing and make an excuse in the hope they’d get their cash, than it was to actually search for a job and a consistent income.
I really don’t like the younger generation being punished by policy, it isn’t their fault the country is on its knees, but there are a very big proportion of ‘takers’ who need to be weeded out of the system. The tryers will get back on their feet. I know I did.
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Teenagers are more than capable of making themselves homeless and do quite regularly I have found! You do realise that humans are the only animals who allow their offspring to come back home!
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