Labour revolt is ALREADY brewing as NEETs review calls for young people to be barred from claiming main sickness and disability benefits - but plan will cost taxpayers £6bn MORE

Detailed summary

A Government review is set to call for under-25s to be barred from the health element of universal credit and personal independence payments.

Published: 09:41 GMT, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 10:08 GMT, 12 November 2026

Andy Burnham is facing a brewing Labour revolt over proposals to strip young people of the main sickness and disability benefits.

A Government review is set to call for under-25s to be barred from the health element of universal credit and personal independence payments.

Alan Milburn is making the suggestion in a bid to cut the number of 'NEETs' - young people not in education, employment or training. Nearly a million are currently in the category, with devastating effects on their life chances.

However, all the savings from the move would go towards an immediate drive to get youths back into the workforce. That could mean taxpayers spending an extra £6billion a year in the short term.

The idea of taking away benefits is already causing disquiet among Labour MPs, who killed off a previous attempt to curb welfare spending under Keir Starmer.

Alan Milburn is making the suggestion in a bid to cut the number of 'NEETs' - young people not in education, employment or training. Mr Miliburn is pictured with Andy Burnham

The Government plans to bring forward major welfare reforms in 2027 amid efforts to reduce the number of NEETs

Mr Milburn - whose review will be launched on Tuesday - told the Times today that changes to how out-of-work young people are treated will not be 'pain-free'.

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