Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid EmailMinisters splashed £5 million preparing a policy that only affected 90 people in its first three months, and was unceremoniously dumped after a year. Last month Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey announced a U-turn on the policy to remove automatic entitlement to housing benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds, which was introduced in April 2017. Minister Kit Malthouse replied: "The preparation costs associated with the removal of the automatic eligibility of 18 to 21-year-olds to claim Universal Credit for housing costs are estimated to be £5 million." The policy was originally expected to save an estimated £95 million, though savings estimates were then revised down to £65 million by the end of 2019/20. "Universal Credit is expected to generate around £7 billion in economic savings when it is fully rolled out."

Source: Daily Mirror April 19, 2018 15:33 UTC