YOUNGSTERS claiming to have mental health issues could have their benefits slashed and given treatment instead, Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday.
The PM insisted money would be better spent giving youths NHS care rather than a life languishing on the dole.
GettyYoung Brits with mental health issues could have benefits slashed and given treatment instead, said Keir Starmer[/caption]
Total spending on health-related handouts has risen from £52billion in 2019–20 to £65billion in 2023-24.
Sir Keir told the BBC: “There are about a million young people who are on benefits, not all for mental health issues, but quite a number for mental health issues.
“If you are on benefits in your 20s, it is going to be extremely difficult to get off benefits for the rest of your life.
“It is not good, and there’s a million young people in that position. So there’s a moral case for changing that, that I’m perfectly prepared to make.”
The Sun understands ministers are also looking at cutting back on online interviews for benefits in favour of seeing claimants face-to-face.
It is believed in-person chats would lead to a big drop in claimants.
Many people are known to be gaming the system with the questions posed and acceptable answers readily available online.
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