Nearly 9000 young people will no longer be eligible for the unemployment benefit when the Government brings in stricter rules in 2027.

Budget 2025 includes a change which places the responsibility for financially supporting 18- and 19-year-olds back on parents, rather than the state.

Former Work and Income Boss Christine Rankin says she loves the Government plan to kick young people off the benefit. 

"The benefit is the road to poverty - it's a terrible situation to allow them to be in when they should be starting their working lives or studying."

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