Universities tell students to apply for benefits from the day their course ends amid claims they are being fast-tracked to a life on handouts
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By ED HOLT
Published: | Updated:
Students at a number of major UK universities are being told to apply for benefits from the day their courses end amid rising concerns young people are being fast-tracked for a life on handouts.
The guidance from the top educational institutions in some cases urges graduates to apply for universal credit even if they are living with their parents or have a job 'lined up in a few weeks'.
While another told students to apply for benefits even before their courses have finished to make sure they do not 'delay' their claim.
The advice comes amid the worst youth employment crisis in decades with university leavers battling it out for a measly 8,383 graduate job vacancies this July - a 45 per cent drop in job adverts since last year.
The number of graduate jobs is now even lower than it was in May 2020 during the height of the coronavirus lockdown.
On top of this, official figures show that unemployment among 16-to-24-year-olds had risen from 16.2 per cent to 16.4 per cent in the three months to July, the highest level in more than a decade.
It has been claimed that rather than equipping their students with the skills needed to tackle the difficult job market, students are instead being placed on a 'fast-track' to a life on benefits.
At King's College London (KCL), one of the country's top Russell Group universities, students have been told in a blog about life after studies that they 'shouldn't feel bad' about claiming benefits such as universal credit and jobseeker's allowance (JSA).
Pictured: King's College London one of the top universities advising students on how they can apply for benefits at the end of their course
Meanwhile, up in Scotland, the University of Stirling advises claims may be made 'from the day after your official course end date' (file image)
Loughborough University provided a date in June when graduates would be eligible to apply for benefits
'As a graduate, these benefits are in place to help you transition from full-time study to work, even if you are living at home or have [a] job lined up in a few weeks. This is an important safety net, which you should claim just in case anything changes,' the advice added.
Loughborough University provided a date in June when graduates would be eligible to apply for benefits.
Their 'money after university' advice page said: 'If you are not immediately starting paid work, you may wish to apply for universal credit.
'Universal credit can be claimed from the day after your course finishes [...] You can start to make an application a week or two before, as it takes some time to complete the process,' it added: 'As a general rule, do not delay in making any claim for benefits.'
Meanwhile, up in Scotland, the University of Stirling advises claims may be made 'from the day after your official course end date'.
The university writes: 'You may need to claim universal credit once you are no longer a student whilst you seek employment or wait to start further study.'
To try and tackle the youth unemployment crisis, Andy Burnham has promised a new government programme to help young people into work.
Through the Jobs Guarantee scheme 18-to-24-year-olds on universal credit and out of work for 18 months will be offered a direct route into work.
Roles on offer are matched to the individual’s skillset, with the government fully funding up to 25 hours of paid work for six months to get individuals into the labour market.
It is hoped that more than 90,000 young people will be supported by the scheme in the next three years.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: 'Young people want to get on in life but for too long too many have been denied that opportunity. The Jobs Guarantee helps change that.
'Seeing the first young people start their roles brings to life what this scheme is about: real jobs, proper wages, and a genuine route into a career.
'As we roll this out to tens of thousands more young people across the country, we’re backing the next generation to succeed and backing British businesses to grow with the talent they need.'
The Daily Mail has approached KCL, Loughborough University and the University of Stirling for a comment.
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