Legislation is due to be introduced on 15 December that will stop students from claiming Universal Credit if they have not had a work capability assessment before starting a course of education.
This means that some families will be worse off, especially once their child comes out of their parents claim at 19 and is unable to claim benefit themselves because they are in education.
We have prepared a letter (below) which you can use as a template if you wish to contact your MP about this.
MP addresses can be found at https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
Dear [insert name] MP
Universal Credit (Exceptions to the requirement not to be receiving Education) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
I am writing to you as a concerned member of your constituency regarding the amendment of Universal Credit legislation, due to come into effect 15 December, preventing students who have a disability from claiming Universal Credit.
This amendment is a perverse incentive for people to leave education and disproportionately affects those most in need of financial support and the most vulnerable members of our society.
Once a child (who has a disability) leaves a parents claim at age 19, the benefit reduction (for parents in most financial need) would be £162.87 per week.
With the introduction of the new legislation, a young adult will be unable to make up some of this shortfall as they are currently able to do (by claiming Universal credit themselves), initially £59 per week and rising to £138.68 per week for those with the most care needs.
Some families will now have to decide whether they can afford to support their child through education, for which the young person cannot access any form of financial help themselves, or take their child out of education because they are unable to financially support them.
The introduction is short sighted and makes education a luxury for those in most financial need. It will stop education to prepare people for adult life, which is vital for personal development, and instead push people into a workplace that they are ill equipped for.
We would like you to support the amendments withdrawal.
Sincerely,
[Insert signature]