I called on the government today to address unfair Universal Credit rules which see under-25s paid a lower rate.

Speaking during an Urgent Question to the DWP today by my Labour colleague Stephen Timms, I said “I ask the minister to address why under 25 year old single parents receive less on Universal Credit than they would have done under legacy benefits. I’ve lobbied ministers along with the Newport Go Girls group on this – it’s unfair and it needs to change.

In his response, the DWP Minister Will Quince would not be drawn on the issue I raised, and just stated that legacy benefits would be reviewed and uprated ahead of April 2021.

I raised this issue last year in Women and Equalities questions and, with a group of campaigners from Newport, met with DWP ministers to look at what could be done to address the disparity in Universal Credit rates paid to under-25s. I am disappointed that the Government has yet to correct this unfair rule and seems to be contiuning to brush it under the carpet. I’ll continue to lobby the Government in Parliament to fix the system.