When can an 18 year old sign on?

Caryne

thorsoak wrote: »

Why not encourage him to sign on at an employment agency for the summer, rather than claim JSA?

Thanks for the suggestion, I can assure you he is actively seeking work but as there is very little in the area he lives (a small, market town miles from a big city) then he may not get anything that quick, hence the above question.

Oldernotwiser

Caryne wrote: »

How do you work that out? My son, along with many of his friends, have now left school at 18 with no prospect of a job and unless they risk huge debt by going to Uni (which he has decided not to do) will have no option but to claim benefit until a job can be found. Why do you think many, many others will not be in the same position?

Most 18 year olds leaving school will either be going to university, starting some form of training or will have some kind of job.

I know your son isn't alone but that doesn't mean that he's in the majority.

Caryne

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Most 18 year olds leaving school will either be going to university, starting some form of training or will have some kind of job.

I know your son isn't alone but that doesn't mean that he's in the majority.

Sadly, in small town, miles from any industry or any other real job opportunities he is in the majority and with the unemployment figures as they are and huge debts run up if young people do go to Uni then I'm not so sure there would be much difference if he was living in a large town anyway. Not sure where you are from, young people may have better prospects in your neck of the woods, but around here it's all pretty bleak with hundreds of applicants for a shelf stacking post in Morrisons.

Aplogies though, to everyone, as this is digressing from my main question which was answered well by Dugdale earlier today. Can the topic now be closed?

nextyeartina

why do some people use these boards to disrespect people when all they're asking for is a little advice?? how lucky your son is hammyman. i wish him the best of employment luck and hope he never has to turn to MSE for some "good" advice :mad:

Caryne

nextyeartina wrote: »

why do some people use these boards to disrespect people when all they're asking for is a little advice?? how lucky your son is hammyman. i wish him the best of employment luck and hope he never has to turn to MSE for some "good" advice :mad:

I agree totally, this board is for advice not for people making value judgements. It's brilliant when young people can find work but, sadly, not everyone is that lucky and have no option but to claim benefits whilst looking for work. People come on here from all sorts of backgrounds, rich and poor, and I feel it is wrong for others to judge when they do not know people's circumstances. As I have said before, I thought that this was a forum for help and advice not value judgements but I seem to be wrong.

Oldernotwiser

Caryne wrote: »

Sadly, in small town, miles from any industry or any other real job opportunities he is in the majority and with the unemployment figures as they are and huge debts run up if young people do go to Uni then I'm not so sure there would be much difference if he was living in a large town anyway. Not sure where you are from, young people may have better prospects in your neck of the woods, but around here it's all pretty bleak with hundreds of applicants for a shelf stacking post in Morrisons.

Aplogies though, to everyone, as this is digressing from my main question which was answered well by Dugdale earlier today. Can the topic now be closed?

There are other forms of training that he could be doing at 18 rather than going to university and, if university wasn't the plan, he would've been better to do a vocational training course earler rather than A levels (which is what I assume he has done.)

I cannot see any point in remaining in the situation you describe and wonder why you're encouraging him to start a life on benefits.