There is currently a petition doing the rounds here, calling for the reversal of restrictions on the housing element of Universal Credit for 18-21 year old people. One assumes that the cosy assumption that underlies this measure is that all under-21’s live with their parents, and that both parents and child(ren) are happy, and safe, in that environment.
Sadly, that is not always the case. What about care-leavers who have to leave their children’s home, or potentially their foster parents, should they be unable or unwilling to continue to support their foster kids after the allowances cease. What about abused adults or children. What about behaviour or restrictions that one or the other finds intolerable? What then?
It seems to me (being charitable) that we will soon see a prime example of the Law of Unintended Consequences in action. On the other hand, my not so charitable self thinks that this is a deliberate and cynical attack on our youth. In either case, I urge my readers (are there any?) to sign the petition here.