Sixteen year olds-What benefits?

Cashtyke

Can anyone tell me what a sixteen year old can claim assuming they have left home and have no work. Are they eligible for income support, housing and council tax benefit?

Hapless_2

AFAIK there are very few benefits a 16 yr old can claim. At 16 they are still a minor. Where housing is concerned they usually must be no longer able to live in the family home and so be able to present themselves as homeless to the local council. chances are they would be allocated a bedsit or a B & B if they are lucky

If you are single, under 25 and rent from a private landlord, you will normally only be entitled to enough Housing Benefit to cover the average cost of a single room in a shared house in your area. This is the case even if you have a place of your own. This rule is known as the single room rent.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-124.cfm

If you're on a low income or not working
If you’re aged 16 or over and on a low income, you may be able to apply for financial help from the government. Exactly how much you’ll get will depend on your age and your personal circumstances.

Income Support
If you're over 16 and unable to work because you're a lone parent, a parent who has to stay home and look after your children, registered as a disabled person, are sick or you're responsible for the care of a relative who is disabled you may be eligible for Income Support.

If you're a university student, on a training course or in full time education, you'll only be able to qualify under special circumstances. In this instance, any part-time work you take on may mean you lose your entitlement to Income Support.

If you're getting Education Maintenance Allowance, this will not affect your Income Support claim.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/Money/DG_10027506

peterg1965

Cashtyke wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what a sixteen year old can claim assuming they have left home and have no work. Are they eligible for income support, housing and council tax benefit?

I am sorry but this begs the question why would they leave home if they have nothing, ie no money and no home to go to? If they do leave home why then should they expect the State to pick up all their expenses and give them money? Strikes me that this is precisely why the welfare state budget is so enormous when people just stick their hands out and 'expect' for no good reason.

zoezoe_3

peterg1965 wrote: »

I am sorry but this begs the question why would they leave home if they have nothing, ie no money and no home to go to? If they do leave home why then should they expect the State to pick up all their expenses and give them money? Strikes me that this is precisely why the welfare state budget is so enormous when people just stick their hands out and 'expect' for no good reason.

Nobody expected anything - the op just asked.

Have you considered that not all people can stay at home until they are 18 ? Perhaps even if they did their parents would not be able to support them ?

I left home at 16 as I had a child. I was not able to stay at home.

Zoe

CIS

They cant claim council tax benefit as under 18's are automaticaly disregarded for council tax purposes