McDonald's to Boots: Where 18 to 24-year-olds will be offered work to cut benefits bill

Thousands of young people will be offered work placements at companies including McDonald’s and Boots as the Government battles to control a welfare bill forecast to reach £333.7bn this year.

Working-age benefits including universal credit already account for £145bn of that total, according to data from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) – a figure ministers hope to shrink by moving long-term claimants into paid work.

Without intervention, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts total welfare spending will exceed £408bn by 2030-31.

Shorts

The push comes as the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) reached 981,000 between April and June this year, according to the Office for National Statistics – around 13 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds, and three per cent higher than the same period last year.