Nearly 1 in 4 people with work-limiting health issues are under 35

A growing number of young people have health issues that affect their ability to work.

An independent review has found that nearly a quarter of people out of work due to ill health are under 35.

Figures also showed that the number of 16 to 34-year-olds with a work-limiting health condition has gone up by 1.2m over the last decade.

That’s helped take the overall number of people in the UK with a health issue that affects their ability to work up to 8.7m - an increase of 41%.

Many young adults are finding it hard to work because of mental health conditions.

In fact, under-35s with mental health conditions were found to be nearly five times more likely to be economically inactive than others in their age group.

Prevention and early intervention a government priority

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the figures show why the government’s employment and welfare reforms are so important.

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said: “We must do far more to help people stay in work and get back quickly if they fall out. 

“That’s why we are making a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention.”

Chair of the review Sir Charlie Mayfield added: “It’s a problem that can and must be addressed by government and employers together.”

The government announced wide-ranging reforms to the welfare system earlier this week, designed to help people who can work get back into employment.

These include: 

• standard allowance of universal credit going up
• eligibility criteria for PIP to be tightened
• work capability assessment to be scrapped in 2028
• people on benefits won’t be penalised for trying out a new job
• incapacity benefits reduced for people under 22
• more frequent reassessments for PIP claimants
• JSA and ESA to be merged
• extra £1bn to be invested in employment support

Sick and disabled people want more help

This comes after a government poll of sick and disabled people found that:

• 44% don’t believe the DWP gives enough support to people who don’t work because of a sickness or disability
• 35% think the DWP could do more to help unemployed people of working age find jobs

Figures also show that 3.1m working age people are on universal credit with no work-related requirements.

That’s an increase of 319% since the pandemic.