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<p>The Government is committed to providing targeted support for young people. We
aim to ensure that everyone, no matter what their start in life, is given the very
best chance of getting into work. To support this, the Department delivers the Youth
Obligation Support Programme, Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools and the recently
introduced Mentoring Circles for young people.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is designed
to replicate the world of work through the introduction of a range of measures such
as monthly assessment periods. Setting a clear benefit rate for claimants under the
age of 25 reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive. This is
intended to maintain the incentive for younger people to find work.</p><p> </p><p>The
lower rates for younger claimants who are under the age of 25 years reflects the fact
that they are more likely to live in someone else's household and have lower living
costs and lower earnings expectations. It also reinforces the stronger work incentives
that Universal Credit creates for this age group. Universal Credit also includes separate
elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support
for disabled people and carers.</p><p> </p><p>Those who naturally migrate to Universal
Credit will do so because they will have had a significant change in their circumstances
which previously would have led to a new claim to another existing benefit. In these
situations, it has always been the case that the assessment of their new benefit will
be based on their new circumstances and under the rules of their new benefit without
regard to their previous entitlement. As their circumstances will have changed it
is not possible to make a meaningful comparison between their previous entitlement
to their existing benefit and their new entitlement to Universal Credit.</p>
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