Burnham must end youth penalty to lift young mothers out of poverty
The Scottish Greens are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to immediately end the youth penalty that forces young mothers and their children into poverty.
Research from Save the Children and Close the Gap shows young mothers under 25 living in Scotland are facing the highest poverty rate of all family groups in Scotland - with 55% of young mothers living in poverty, and 42% live in poverty despite working.
Currently, single parents under the age of 25 are given a lower rate of Universal Credit, whether they are working or unemployed, with many young mothers in particular having to survive on up to £86 less per month than someone in the same family setting who is older.
The call to scrap the unfair youth penalty comes from the party’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Holly Bruce MSP, who wants fairer work and fairer support for young mothers.
Holly Bruce MSP said:
“The monthly cost for nappies, clothes and rent is the same for a mum who is 24 or 34 years old, yet young mothers are being forced into poverty because of the unfair youth penalty that offers them less financial support than someone who is older than 25.
“It is extremely disappointing and worrying to hear that more than half of young mums in Scotland are living in poverty, including young working parents. These are not just statistics but real people and families who are facing extreme financial hardship with multiple barriers to clamber over to try and ease the strain.
“Whether a young mum receives Universal Credit through being unemployed or as a top up to support them while they work, they should not be penalised for being under 25. There must be better support in place, as well as fair work opportunities that offer better pay and flexibility to accommodate family life.
“The Scottish Greens want to see an end to child and family poverty, and we believe the UK Government can take immediate action to make that a reality. I will be writing to the Prime Minister this week, asking him to immediately end the youth penalty so that young mothers are offered parity to help lift and keep them and their children out of poverty.”