Overview

• The offer covers paid, time-limited placements as well as apprenticeships or college places for those still not earning or learning after 18 months on Universal Credit.
• Ministers say claimants who refuse an offer without a reasonable excuse could see their Universal Credit cut or withdrawn.
• The target age range is unclear, with reports pointing to an initial 18–21 focus and others a wider 18–24, and briefings indicate the policy applies first to Universal Credit claimants rather than those on sickness benefits.
• No employer partners have been named; officials say options will be developed with businesses, councils and charities across sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing, with subsidies to support wages.
• Funding and delivery details are due at the November Budget, with one regional report linking part of the money to £132.5m in Dormant Assets, as supporters and critics debate risks to vulnerable young people and whether placements lead to lasting jobs.