Universal Credit claimants may be eligible for extra support. The DWP has issued an update about a grants scheme to help claimants.

The Government issued the update after a written question from an MP. Liberal Democrat representative, Dr Al Pinkerton, asked ministers what support is available to help young people into employment. DWP minister Andrew Western penned a response from the Government.

He outlined what support is coming up to help young people into work. The minister said: "Building on the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement at Budget, theGovernment committed a further £1billion for young people on 16th March 2026, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5billion over the next three years.

"This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn." He pointed to a grant scheme to help employers take on and train up younger workers.

The minister said: "The Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock upto200,000more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18 to 24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16 to 24-year-old, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job."

Previous Government figures suggested these grants could help some 60,000 young people over a three-year period. The DWP has announced that from autumn 2026, the Jobs Guarantee will expand to all eligible 18 to 24 year-olds who are on Universal Credit and who have been looking for work for 18 months.

Government guidance states: "They will benefit from 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work. Young people on the scheme will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support."

The minimum wage for people aged 18 to 20 is currently £10.85 an hour, or £12.71 for anyone aged 21 and over. At these rates, a person aged 18 to 20 working 25 hours a week would earn £271.25 a week, or £7,052.50 over six months. A person aged 21 and over would earn £317.75 a week, or £8,261.50 over a six-month period.

Mr Western spoke about some other support being rolled out as part of the same package of reforms: "The Government is delivering 8 Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England,expanding Youth Hubsto more than 360 areasacross Great Britainandintroducing anew Youth Guarantee GatewayinJobcentres. The Gatewaywill provide16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credita dedicated session and follow-up support tohelp them move intowork,trainingor education."

There are also plans for more support in schools to increase access to work experience opportunities, and working with local authorities to auto-enrol students into further education.