Apprentice needs help to pay rent

Maisie5

[FONT=&quot]My son, 23 graduated from university this year and has been looking for work ever since. He currently lives at home and has not been claiming any benefits. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He wants to change direction with his career and has the chance to start an apprenticeship in a brewery for 18 months working 40 hours per week for around £100 but he will have to move 90 miles away from home. The cheapest accommodation he can find there is around £100 per week (house sharing). Is there anything he can claim to help him pay his rent? I have tried online calculators for income support (cannot work over 16 hours to claim) and working tax credit (must be over 25 to claim).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Clearly, apprenticeships are designed for school leavers still living at home but if you are 23 years old and working 40 hours a week for less than £3 per hour you do not seem to be eligible for any assistance.
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[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Thanks for your advice.[/FONT]
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Poppie68

WOW thats big!

Poppie68

He would'nt qualify for income support anyway regardless of hours as he does'nt fit the criteria ie: single parent. Also at his age he is only able to claim the shared accomadation rate, you will need to check the local authority website to see what they pay. U can also input his details into the Turn2us calculator and see what that comes up with.

Prothet_of_Doom

Well done to him for getting the apprentiship. Can't help regards the costs vs income, but is he sure that this is the best route into brewing.
There are a number of microbreweries who do residential courses in commercial brewing, and there are 1000's of small breweries and wineries in the UK, who might take him at a higher rate, if he'd done the right corses. There is a trade association where he might find some advice.

Maisie5

Oops, sorry that was BIG! Thanks for your rapid replies. We'll check out everything suggested. Thanks

Jobseeeker

He won't get paid £100 a week if he's 23, the special apprenticeship min wage only applies to under 19s. They will have to pay your son the normal min wage

But anyway if he's on a low income yes he can apply for housing benefit

Housing_Benefit_Officer

His LHA rate would be based on the SRR as he is under 35.

Poppie68

Jobseeeker wrote: »

He won't get paid £100 a week if he's 23, the special apprenticeship min wage only applies to under 19s. They will have to pay your son the normal min wage

But anyway if he's on a low income yes he can apply for housing benefit

They have to be there for 12 months before they are paid min wage.

Jobseeeker

Poppie68 wrote: »

They have to be there for 12 months before they are paid min wage.

not if they're over 19:

"If the apprentice is aged 19 and / or has completed the first year of their Apprenticeship, the employer must pay the NMW appropriate for their age. "

It says and/or so either they are over 19 or they have been there a year they must pay the NMW

jacques_chirac

Jobseeeker wrote: »

not if they're over 19:

"If the apprentice is aged 19 and / or has completed the first year of their Apprenticeship, the employer must pay the NMW appropriate for their age. "

It says and/or so either they are over 19 or they have been there a year they must pay the NMW

Poppie68 is correct.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payerti/payroll/pay-and-deductions/nmw.htm

Poppie68

Jobseeeker wrote: »

not if they're over 19:

"If the apprentice is aged 19 and / or has completed the first year of their Apprenticeship, the employer must pay the NMW appropriate for their age. "

It says and/or so either they are over 19 or they have been there a year they must pay the NMW

2 of my daughters completed apprenticeships and both were paid nat min wage when they turned 19 and completed 1 year.

The apprentice 'National Minimum Wage' applies to all 16 to 18 year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their Apprenticeship. If you reach age 19 and have completed the first year of your Apprenticeship your employer must pay you at least the 'full National Minimum Wage' rate for those aged 18 to 20.