Universal Credit campaign

Nearly 110,000 disabled young people will lose almost £100 a week if access to the disabled health element is removed for most disabled young adults aged 16-21.

Taking action now

Tell your MP to oppose restriction Universal Credit.

The health element (currently called the limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) element) is for claimants unable to work due to health issues.

In March 2025, the government set out plans to remove access to this addition for most young adults aged 16 – 21. This proposal would mean:

• A huge drop in income of almost £100 per week for nearly 110,000 disabled young adults.
• A devastating financial impact not only on young disabled people who are not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) but also on many disabled young people under 22s who are in education or low paid employment. 
• Disabled young people and their families pushed further into poverty and further away from any employment prospects. 

This is not a policy that should be implemented. It is not a proposal that Contact could support in any way. Read our full response.

We need you to email our template to your MP and tell them to oppose this change.

A consultation on this change closes on 30 June 2025. Please email [email protected] if you would like a copy of our consultation response.

More on our Universal Credit campaign

There are a number of other features of Universal Credit that have a negative impact on families with disabled children, such as the difficulties for disabled young people in education.

Among these is the lower rate of the “disabled child addition” for Universal Credit claimants with a disabled child on a qualifying benefit.

Under Universal Credit, this is 50% less than it was under legacy benefits. This cut will mean 100,000 families with disabled children will be worse off by more than £2,290 a year.

Disabled children are one of the groups the introduction of Universal Credit hits hardest. These features of Universal Credit should be removed.

What we want

We want:

• The government to reverse the 50% cut to the lower disabled child addition under Universal Credit, a cut of £2,290 per year per child. Even with transitional protection, 100,000 disabled children are worse off. Find out more.
• A change to the rules that restrict many disabled young people who are “receiving education” from being able to claim Universal Credit. This would benefit around 1,500-2,000 disabled children and their families. 
• To stop the Universal Credit takeaway for children in hospital and looked-after children in residential care.

What you can do

• If you have experience of claiming Universal Credit and would like to help our campaign, please get in touch with [email protected]  

What we are doing

• In November 2024, we met with the Disability Minister on ways to fix Universal Credit for disabled children . We welcome plans to review Universal Credit.
• We have produced a briefing for MPs on children with looked after status who will be worse off by around £850 per month and won’t get transitional protection.
• Launching new research, Courting the Costs 2024 to highlight the extra costs families face.

Need help understanding Universal Credit?

Many parents are astounded at the complexities surrounding claiming universal credit. Our research shows seven in 10 families are worried about the introduction of Universal Credit.  

Parents tell us that it is very difficult to source specialist advice locally.

‘I may have given up on the claim had it not been for your advice and continued support.  My local advice organisation told me that my son would not qualify and the Jobcentre gave the same incorrect advice.’  

Check how your family might be affected by Universal Credit by reading our Universal Credit page or contacting our free helpline