benefits for a 17 year old?

taplady

Hi my 17 year old son has been laid off from his job and is currently looking for a new one, had 2 interviews and will find out tomorrow about one of them, didn't get the other. Does anyone know if he is entitled to any benefits at all before he is 18? he is now skint and trying to find the cash for his driving lessons, we cant really afford to help him out.
thanks

Gemmzie

If he is living at home then no unless you are a very low income family.

Sorry

bobmats_shel

taplady wrote: »

Hi my 17 year old son has been laid off from his job and is currently looking for a new one, had 2 interviews and will find out tomorrow about one of them, didn't get the other. Does anyone know if he is entitled to any benefits at all before he is 18? he is now skint and trying to find the cash for his driving lessons, we cant really afford to help him out.
thanks

I seriously hope there's a really good reason he needs to learn to drive, otherwise looking into what benefits he can claim so that he can afford driving lessons is just a joke! Benefits are for people who need to buy food, electricity, clothing etc, not driving lessons.

He's not entitles to anything I'm afraid. Good luck with the job hunting, Hopefully he'll find something soon.

Hapless_2

If he goes to the jobcentre to register as looking for work and sign on, he may not get anything though. As has been said before, driving lessons are a luxury, benefits are there for the essentials like food etc.

rammy007

It might be worth asking for the jobseekers bridging allowance this i think is not very well known about.the benefit system is a total !!! for kids of this age,especially now they find it difficult to get certain jobs with machinery etc in factories cos they are under 18 due to new legislation.

Oldernotwiser

Wanting to continue with his driving lessons will be an excellent incentive for him to find work but he should really be more concerned about the fact that you're having to keep him whilst he's unemployed.

taplady

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Wanting to continue with his driving lessons will be an excellent incentive for him to find work but he should really be more concerned about the fact that you're having to keep him whilst he's unemployed.

yes you would think so!:rolleyes: he's just been told he didn't get the latest job he went for either. He's got his test in July so hopefully wont have to pay for too many more lessons. We live in the countryside with very few buses so driving is really essential if he wants to get a job.There are very few jobs in the small town where we live so he needs to be able to travel.

Tigger36

If he's in a rural area and needs a driving licence for a job then Princes Trust may be able to help with a Development Award. Our panel pays a maximum of £250 towards lessons but other parts of the country differ. It could be worth an application. Best of luck. Here's the link:

http://83.138.128.154/Main%20Site%20v2/14-30%20and%20need%20help/grants%20for%20jobs%20and%20training.asp