Under 25 - no tax credits?

Curley

susy wrote: »

21,000?? I wish.

Thought you could only get tax credits if your earnings were less than 15,000?

I earn £14,400 and i'm not entitled to a single penny.

susy_2

Curley wrote: »

I earn £14,400 and i'm not entitled to a single penny.

Sorry to hear that Curley. Why is that?

Curley

Not sure, probably because i'm single, have a mortgage and not dependants. I struggle to live, but there's nothing I can do.

dmg24

Same boat Curley! x

Gemmzie

LoveyB wrote: »

My son is 24 and has just moved out into rented accommodation, a room in a 2 bed roomed terraced house. He is still paying off Student debts.
Can anyone advise whether he would be entitled to any benefits?
Thank you.

Hi LoveyB, need a bit more information before I can answer that one.

Is he working, and if so, what are his earnings? Has he got any savings? How much is the rent?

LoveyB

Hi Gemmzie,
I know he's making about £12,000 working at Betty's.He is paying off a student loan. He has no savings. and he has a room in a 2 bedroomed house, but I don't know the exact rent, It is probably around £350 per month for his share of the rent. The house is unfurnished.
I will get back to you with the exact figures.
I just feel he is living on the bread line . and should be entitled to some help.
Thanks.

LoveyB

Hi there,
I was correct about his details.
I hope someone can give me some advice.
Thank you.

kasper

I'm also quite confused as to why under 25 year-olds cannot claim working tax credits. I've been looking on various government websites for any explanation as to why this is the case, but haven't been able to find out. One would assume that the only possible reason would be that under 25s can claim a different benefit instead, but this doesn't seem to be the case. If anyone can explain the logic behind this rule, I would be intrigued.

Gemmzie

LoveyB wrote: »

Hi Gemmzie,
I know he's making about £12,000 working at Betty's.He is paying off a student loan. He has no savings. and he has a room in a 2 bedroomed house, but I don't know the exact rent, It is probably around £350 per month for his share of the rent. The house is unfurnished.
I will get back to you with the exact figures.
I just feel he is living on the bread line . and should be entitled to some help.
Thanks.

I'm afraid he's stuck in the catch-22 situation at the moment.

He earns too much for benefits, sorry.

Gemmzie

kasper wrote: »

I'm also quite confused as to why under 25 year-olds cannot claim working tax credits. I've been looking on various government websites for any explanation as to why this is the case, but haven't been able to find out. One would assume that the only possible reason would be that under 25s can claim a different benefit instead, but this doesn't seem to be the case. If anyone can explain the logic behind this rule, I would be intrigued.

This is my personal opinion on it - from what I know. Wouldn't like to say it's definitely right but ...

The government seems to use 25 as the cut off age when you are an 'adult', if you do not have children or a disability. Before this they either expect you to be a student, still living at home and working or on an apprenticeship - therefore, they don't provide tax credits.

If they did then perhaps they think it would encourage more young people into low paid, base level jobs because they'd get the extra help. Whereas this way, it encourages them into education or training.

I think this is why there is no other benefit equivalent for under 25s. There's Housing Benefit, Income Support, JSA for very low paid workers.