Commentary on Sections Part 1: Universal credit Section 10: Responsibility for children and young persons
55.Section 10 provides that where claimants have responsibility for dependent children or qualifying young people, an amount per child in respect of extra living costs may be included in the universal credit award. Under subsection (2) an extra amount may be included in respect of a disabled child or young person. The rate of the amount for children and young persons, and any extra amounts for disabled children, including any amount for more severely disabled children, will be prescribed in regulations under subsection (3). Subsection (4) allows for regulations to set out circumstances where an award will not include an amount in respect of responsibility for a child or qualifying young person.
56.The first regulations made under subsections (3) and (4) will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
57.A qualifying young person will be a person over the age of 16 who meets other conditions to be set out in regulations under subsection (5). This will allow families to continue to receive support for young people over the age of 16 who are part of the household and continue in full-time, non-advanced education.