Some parents on benefits to get up to £4,500 for child starting apprenticeship
The UK government is introducing a £30m bursary scheme to help parents on benefits avoid losing income when their children start apprenticeships. This policy aims to remove financial barriers that currently discourage young people from entering vocational training.
Why it matters
Addressing the 'benefits trap' is a key strategy for reducing youth unemployment and improving long-term economic participation.
Image source, Getty Images By Archie Mitchell Business reporter Published 28 July 2026, 17:50 BST Updated 20 minutes ago Some parents on benefits will be given up to £4,500 a year to encourage their children to start apprenticeships, the government has said.
Under plans to encourage young people into work, families will be offered a bursary to replace Universal Credit payments lost by starting jobs.
The payment is aimed at ending a situation in which a small number of families risk losing income if their children start apprenticeships.
The payment is expected to benefit an estimated few thousand households, who currently face losing between £17 and £330 a week depending on individual circumstances.
The bursary will be paid for from a £30m pot, funded through the growth and skills levy, a tax on employers with annual wage bills over £3m.
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