Every 18-to-24-year-old on benefits will be 'guaranteed' a job after a year as part of taxpayer-funded scheme

Detailed summary

The taxpayer-funded programme, rolled out in April and which goes nationwide this month, promises under-25s on Universal Credit a fully funded, six-month job matched to their skills.

Published: 00:16 GMT, 15 November 2026 | Updated: 00:27 GMT, 15 November 2026

Every 18-to-24-year-old on Universal Credit will soon be 'guaranteed' a job after 12 months as the Government looks to expand a scheme to help young people into work.

From April, the length of time a benefit claimant waits before becoming eligible for the scheme will be cut from 18 months, the Department for Work and Pensions said.

The taxpayer-funded programme, rolled out in April and which goes nationwide this month, promises under-25s on Universal Credit a fully funded, six-month job matched to their skills.

Under the scheme, which will be rolled out nationwide from the end of November, the Government funds up to 25 hours of paid work a week at the relevant minimum wage.

The reduction in the length of time a benefit claimant waits before becoming eligible for the programme will come into force in April next year, officials said.

It comes after the author of a major forthcoming report on tackling the rise in youth unemployment said they deserve a legal 'guarantee' of a route into work.

Alan Milburn, whose recommendations will be published on Tuesday, told the BBC that the Government should have a duty to ensure young people have access to either training, work or employment support.

He suggested this might work similarly to the way that local councils have a legal responsibility to offer accommodation or advice to the homeless, or accommodate children in care.

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