Young people are on benefits out of necessity, not out of choice

http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/aug/04/young-people-benefits-necessity-choice

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It may be an unpopular thing to say working in the charity sector but, among the young people who are currently claiming unemployment and housing benefits, there will be some who are taking advantage of the system. This would be the case for any system and it’s reasonable to see why the government wants to address the issue.

In a time of financial difficulty with a rising welfare bill and high youth unemployment, you can also see why politicians want to get young people into work.

Related: Benefit cut 'could make thousands of vulnerable young people homeless'

But, contrary to the perceptions of many, the vast majority of the country’s young people are looking to do the right thing. Of an estimated 3.2 million 18- to 21-year-olds, only about 19,000 claim both unemployment and housing benefits, the benefits the government plans to abolish for that age group.

Not only this, but our research also shows that the amount of young people claiming these benefits is falling, not increasing. The number of 18- to 21-year-olds on both jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit has more than halved in the past two years, and is falling quicker than any other age group.

More young people are also staying in their family home and opting not to begin adult life by claiming benefits (seven in ten 18- to 21-year-olds now live with their parents). Eventually you realise the majority of young people who are accessing social security are not doing so out of choice. To them, it is a necessity.

Some have children to look after (2,100 18- to 21-year-olds claiming JSA and housing benefit have at least one dependent child), some have come from the care system (7,200) and others have already been through the rigorous process of being identified as homeless by local authorities (around 6,000).

Many of these will be claiming unemployment and housing benefits so they can have somewhere safe to stay and get their lives back on track. But rather than improve the situation, our research shows that the changes could result in removing support from some of the country’s most vulnerable young people.

Something else which must not be lost in this debate is the role that the social security has to play in enabling young people to access support and find training and employment. How can a young person, who may never have worked, be expected to flourish when they don’t know where they will sleep that night?

These cuts will also affect the organisations, such as the YMCA, that provide young people with a safe place to stay. However, in April 2017, YMCAs and other providers could be in the position of having to turn away young people just because they are unable to access housing benefit. Where will they go? Your guess is as good as mine.

It is for all these reason that we are fighting for protections for these vulnerable groups. Based on the findings from our research, as a minimum we are urging the government to exempt young people who are pregnant or have dependent children, and those who have left care – which the government is likely to do. However it should also include those who are homeless or have a history of homelessness and those who are estranged from their parents.

Until firm measures are put in place to protect these vulnerable young people, thousands who simply cannot go home will face uncertain futures – not knowing if they will be able to access the support they need or even have a place to call home.

Denise Hatton is chief executive at YMCA England.

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