JSA sanction - 18, pregnant,lives alone- help!

londonirish_3

thorsoak wrote: »

What a sad situation you all find yourselves in! So obviously any help from the father will be non-existant in the future as well as now. How does your daughter propose supporting her baby? Will she get a job as soon as she can, or will she be dependant upon state benefits?

From what you have posted, although you can give her moral support, you're not in a position to help support her financially either - has she considered the possibility of adoption? I know its a tough call - but it might be best for baby

:rotfl::rotfl: you really have no idea!
she is going to be a single parent, she will be skint, SHE WILL COPE, my god!, whats best for baby, is to be with its mother who will love it and provide for it as best she can, whether on benefits or otherwise!, give her a chance !

NickyBat

londonirish wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: you really have no idea!
she is going to be a single parent, she will be skint, SHE WILL COPE, my god!, whats best for baby, is to be with its mother who will love it and provide for it as best she can, whether on benefits or otherwise!, give her a chance !

Well said :T

tomitma

morganedge wrote: »

How does this all work then?
She is already moved into the flat.
Do people find a flat, pay the deposit themselves and the first months rent upfront out of their own pockets and THEN apply for housing benefit?
Or do you contact the housing benefit people and they find you a council flat (i thought this took years?)

She's already been living there for a month.
I persume then that the governemt didn't pay for her first months rent. Are you saying that she is only entitled to a bedsit or a 'flat share' and that she wont recieve anything for her rent for the flat anyway?

The council sometimes give you the deposit, and the first months rent, but it takes weeks and many interviews to get the deposit and by the time they agree, the flat has usually gone.

Because of her age, she is only entitled to recieve housing benefit for a shared flat/house, or a bedsitter, but that of course will change when she has the baby, she will then get the rent paid at the LHA rates for a one bed flat/house.

She will have to pay the shortage in rent herself, even after she has had the baby.

It does seem a bit daft to even contemplate having a baby in these circumstances.

Getting a flat or house from the council does take years, of course if you have a baby and you are a one parent family then it does become quicker. But with out a baby, the Council will not give out one bedroom flats/houses especially as the person is only 18, before the new rules came in with the LHA she would have been laughing.

thorsoak

londonirish wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: you really have no idea!
she is going to be a single parent, she will be skint, SHE WILL COPE, my god!, whats best for baby, is to be with its mother who will love it and provide for it as best she can, whether on benefits or otherwise!, give her a chance !

Sadly, I DO have some idea! In the past (over 20 years ago, granted) I've acted as a mentor for young girls in this situation. For every three that got things right, managed to find work/go to college/become independant, another one or two would buckle the under pressures - often ending up with social services having to intervene and take a child/children into care.

The OP is prepared to be a supportive grandparent, so hopefully the girl in question here will be one of those who does manage - I sincerely hope so!

paulwellerfan

i think the best advice that you have been given is to go and see the CAB as soon as possible.
i wish your daughter the best of luck
( no judgement here- i was in that position 20 odd years ago)

Blackpool_Saver

I think the best course of action would be to contact women's aid, look for the office nearest to you, the have staff known as IDVA's they can advise in all matters both financial and emotional and will do all they can to help.


http://www.womensaid.org.uk/landing_page.asp?section=000100010024&sectionTitle=Find+a+local+service

Blackpool_Saver

http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-survivors-handbook.asp?section=000100010008000100320005

http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-survivors-handbook.asp?section=000100010008000100320002

londonirish_3

thorsoak wrote: »

Sadly, I DO have some idea! In the past (over 20 years ago, granted) I've acted as a mentor for young girls in this situation.

going on what you wrote about giving up baby before she even had a chance to try that is very worrying that you have been mentoring!!!!

thorsoak

londonirish wrote: »

going on what you wrote about giving up baby before she even had a chance to try that is very worrying that you have been mentoring!!!!

No it's not - None of the girls that I mentored went down the adoption route - although two of my colleagues' "girls" babies were given up for adoption at 2-3 years of age ...when they (the babies and mums) had gone through horrendous times of mums not coping/resorting to drink/violent partners who abused babies ....need I go on?

FTIW, I've just received two christmas cards from two of my young mums this morning, giving me their news (successful in one, sad in the other) - which prompted my post.

NickyBat

I meant to say in my earlier post, hardship will ge granted, as your daughter fits the criteria for jsa hardship