Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2018 to Question 182257 on Universal Credit: Lone Parents, what evidence her Department has that claimants who are under 25 have lower living costs.

Universal Credit was designed to simplify the benefits system and focus on getting people into work and supporting in-work progression. It has a much simpler age-related structure which aligns the rates for claimants who are under the age of 25 years. By setting a clear benefit rate for under 25s this reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive. This is intended to maintain the incentive for younger people to find work.

Additional amounts that are added to provide for particular needs such as children and disability are paid at a standard rate.