Teens on benefit rate revealed
Over 200 teenagers in Perth and Kinross are on Universal Credit, the PA can reveal.
Analysis of the latest government figures show 218 youngsters aged between 16 and 19 in the region received the six-in-one benefit in August this year. That works out as around one in every 30 teens of that age range.
Campaigners said the findings reflected the huge number of people“struggling”on low incomes. The figures also revealed nearly 75 per cent of Perth and Kinross youngsters on Universal Credit were unemployed.
The controversial benefit is a monthly payment to help people struggling with living costs. It replaced the previously separate child tax credit, housing benefit, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance and working tax credit.
But the scheme - first introduced in 2013 - has been plagued by management failures, IT blunders and design faults.
Matthew Geer, campaigns manager at the poverty charity Turn2us, said:“There are a number of reasons for under-18s to need to claim UC, such as a disability, a caring role, having a child of their own, or if they are without parental support. What is vital is that we don’t demonise young claimants, but support them holistically.”
Across Great Britain there were 98,563 teenagers aged between 16 and 19 who received Universal Credit in August this year.
That works out as around one in every 29 people in that age range.