Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Pathways to Work Green Paper published on 23 July, what steps they have taken to engage with the families of young disabled people who may be affected by the proposal to removal eligibility of those under 22 years of age for the limited capability for work and work-related activity element of Universal Credit.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper was published on 18 March 2025 and closed on 30 June 2025, setting out plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support.

We ran a programme of consultation events to hear from disabled people and people with health conditions directly, including 7 virtual events and 11 in-person events across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

As part of the consultation, we welcomed views on raising the age someone can access the Universal Credit Health Element to 22. This consultation received over 45,000 responses and we are considering responses; we will set out our plans in due course.

If we proceed with this change, we will consider what special provisions need to be put in place for those young people where engagement with the Youth Guarantee is not a realistic prospect.