Benefits for Under18s

moneysaver96

I'm 17, i live in a flat with a friend, who's also 17.

I currently have a full time job and my friend has an apprenticeship, this is what pays the rent/bills/food etc.
Neither of us are on any benefits, and we're only just making ends meet, because minimum wage is significantly lower for us (£3.72) because we're 17.

However, i'd like to go back to college.
If i were to study a full time course i'd only be able to work weekends (13 hours) which means we wouldn't have nearly enough to live on.

Are there any benefits which a 17-yo student in further education can get? (income support maybe?)

Fieldsofgold

Are you estranged from your parents?

moneysaver96

Not exactly.. i still talk to my dad but i don't live with him, nor do i get any financial support whatsoever, he barely has enough money for himself because he refuses to work. He's one of those. Hence why I moved out.

StormyWeather_2

Do you know which course you would like to do? You could try contacting the student finance for the college you're applying to.

moneysaver96

I haven't decided on a course yet, i have an interview at the college next week where they'll help me decide. However i already know that they offer financial support of £30 a fortnight, which isn't nearly enough to make up for the hours i'll lose during the week.

I was considering working later in the day after i finish college, but i work far from home it takes me 2 hours on the bus to get there and another 2 hours to get back, so going in for a 4 hour shift in the evening will be both exhausting and not-worth it.

[Deleted User]

As StormyWeather suggests contact the college you would like to attend directly, they will be able to give you the most accurate advice.

Also, depending on the course, it may not be 9-5 everyday, so there might be some opportunity to work more than just weekends. Again, the college would be the best place to get this info from.

BW,

D9

moneysaver96

I guess i'll ask them at the interview then. Thanks to those who replied

If anyone else has any more info it would be much appreciated.

StormyWeather_2

moneysaver96 wrote: »

I haven't decided on a course yet, i have an interview at the college next week where they'll help me decide. However i already know that they offer financial support of £30 a fortnight, which isn't nearly enough to make up for the hours i'll lose during the week.

I was considering working later in the day after i finish college, but i work far from home it takes me 2 hours on the bus to get there and another 2 hours to get back, so going in for a 4 hour shift in the evening will be both exhausting and not-worth it.

Could you get another job that fits better around the course and where you live. Ask if there are any jobs at the college such as serving in the cafes and bars.

Look at other jobs that give you an opportunity to study while at work, the sort where you are there 'just in case'. e.g. hotel night porter, 24 hour car park attendant.

Fieldsofgold

Many college courses can be just as well studied part time, allowing you to continue in your full time job. In fact, if you don't know what you want to do, why consider returning, particularly as you're making yourself vulnerable to being sold a course by the college which may not be suitable for you.

Mr_Lawnmower

As a matter of policy, full time students cannot normally claim any benefits - they're supposed to live off student financial support, earnings and, if needs must, debt. It used to be possible to claim during holidays, but this was stopped many years ago.

The main exception to this policy are students with a disability who can claim Income Related ESA so long as they receive a qualifying disability benefit (one of DLA, PIP or AFIP). If a student has sufficient NI contributions, it is possible to claim Contributions Based ESA as a student. However, the system that allowed people falling ill when they were young to qualify for Contributions Based ESA without sufficient NI contributions has closed to new claims.

There are some exemptions from the general "no benefits" rule for lone parents.

You can find pretty fulsome details of who qualifies for benefits as a student on Turn2us (Google for it - as a newbie here I can't post links), though I've mentioned the two key groups who might be able to get benefits already.


As StormyWeather has said, it might be worth looking for a similar job that is a better fit around your location and course choice. Alternatively, you might consider relocating to be nearer your job if that is easier.


I also endorse Fieldsofgold's advice to remember you are a consumer when it comes to choosing education, even if your place is funded for you. Though a college interview is partly about selecting the best candidates for each course, it is also a sales patter.

In one of the subjects I've studied at degree level, I am aware of how the education providers tend to play up the chances of employment after taking what can be very expensive courses. (If I mention fees of £10k plus for a mandatory one year of study after a qualifying degree or graduate conversion course, some reading will likely figure out which field I'm referring to).

If you are planning to take a course with a view to further study, don't guess as to the entry requirements for future study because you might be surprised. Two fairly well-known examples come from those offering A levels who want to get into university. For medicine, A level chemistry is usually mandatory (AS chemistry is good enough for some medical schools) but most medical schools do not require A level biology (a few insist on it). For law, you don't need A level law and a handful of law schools do not look favourably on candidates who offer it, preferring to teach the subject from first principles. However, the principle to check the entry requirements has wider applicability. As you are 17, you likely left school after Year 11, so this college course might not be the last one you take. It's best to think about education in terms of where you want to finish up, then research how you can get there.

I strongly urge you to do independent research about where a course can lead you, how employers view it and what the realistic career prospects might be.


Alongside having a chat with the college, it might be worth trying to get some independent careers advice, though that is not always easy to access these days. If you can figure out what you want to do and what you have the aptitude for, this might help you decide what to study.

A particularly good way to get college qualifications alongside experience is an apprenticeship, as your friend knows, but the best opportunities are very oversubscribed.

poppasmurf_bewdley

When my daughter was at University, full time for three years, she worked evenings as well as weekends. By doing this, she managed to pay for her house share, keep, and still had money and time to go out boozing with the other students.

You will probably have to do the same. You do not have to restrict yourself to only working at weekends.