“If any of these political parties really wanted to reduce spending on benefits, they should tackle the societal discrimination and service failures that are driving people onto benefits in the first place.”
Disability Rights UK has released the following statement following reports that the Milburn review will contain the removal of disability benefits for disabled young people.
Last December, Milburn was asked by the Government to consider solutions to the high number of young people not in education, employment or training. His interim report, published in May, spoke about systemic failings in education, health, employment support and the employment market, letting young people down.
Now he cuts to the chase, saying that all Disabled young people should have disability benefits removed. So, has the Milburn Review just been a costly exercise to provide a “justification” for crude and cruel cuts to the benefits of Disabled people? It appears that the answer is yes.
There is no case for cutting the benefits targeted at Disabled people; age is irrelevant. The health component of Universal Credit, already cut in half by this Government, recognises that Disabled people will often have to stay on social security for longer periods, either because they are unable to work or because we take much longer to find jobs. Personal Independence Payment recognises the extra costs of Disabled people, which are estimated to be an average of £1,095 per month.
In what universe does Milburn think that taking away benefits from young Disabled people, which help them to survive, will result in them getting jobs? What his proposals will do is discriminate against Disabled people based on age, drive a worsening of mental and physical health and push young Disabled people into poverty, destitution and homelessness.
For young Disabled people in low-paid, insecure work, the Milburn proposals could lead to them being forced out of hard-won employment opportunities, which can’t be sustained without top-up payments from Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment, leading to yet more people out of education, employment and training.
If the Labour Government gives any airtime to the Milburn proposals on cuts to disability benefits for young Disabled people, it joins the Conservatives and Reform in their unfounded and poorly thought-through rush to “bring down the benefits bill”. If any of these political parties really wanted to reduce spending on benefits, they should tackle the societal discrimination and service failures that are driving people onto benefits in the first place.
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- This statement was first posted by Disability Rights UK on 12 November 2026.
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