Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.159 of the Summer Budget 2015, what criteria his Department plans to use to classify people as vulnerable.

This Government is determined to end long term youth unemployment, and support all young people into work. In order to prevent young people slipping straight into a life on benefits, from April 2017 we will remove automatic entitlement to housing support for new claims in Universal Credit from 18-21 year olds who are out of work. This measure ensures young people in the benefits system face the same choices as young people who work and who may not be able to afford to leave home.

However, we will ensure that vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing needs continue to receive it. Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of that process.

We have invited key stakeholders to engage with the Department on this policy.