Benefits/help for 19yr old employed girl?

JAHL

My Grandaughter (19) has a part time job (16hrs with occasional overtime) - her parents are not together and neither will let her live with them. She is looking to find a rental with a friend but her income is too low at the moment. It would appear that she can not claim working tax credit - there seems to be a whole cohort of young people for whom no help is available. She is doing the rounds of living room floors at the moment (including mine) and needs a stable environment.

Can anyone offer advice please? Thank you

Blackpool_Saver

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_children_and_young_people_ew/young_people_and_benefits.htm

nannytone_2

she would be entitled to help with rent and council tax.
you need to find out the rate of Local Housing Allowance for your area for shared accomodation. anything she eartns will be taken into consideration when calculating her entitlement

kingfisherblue

It might be worth her contacting the local council as she is homeless. In my area, there is a place for young people to live (think it is called a forum) if they are unable to live with family. If your area doesn't have one, they will be able to advise on what options are available.


She might also be able to rent a room in a shared house. These sometimes have bills included, but housing benefit will not include the part for the bills. On the other hand, it could be useful for her to know exactly how much she is paying out.


I assume that she is looking for work with more hours, or a second job.

TELLIT01

Despite Government claims that the vast majority of jobs are full time, many people struggle even to find part time work. The other reality is that unless she is pregnant there will be very little support available.

Blackpool_Saver

http://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou

allen35

I am sure If she is in the pathfinder for Universal Credit she may be entitled to a small top up of benefit (approx' £10 pw) based on current income.

She would need to check with JobcentrePlus and can apply online.

PasturesNew

"Finding a rental with a friend" implies finding a 2-bed flat to privately rent between them. This will always be more expensive than finding an existing property that has a room to let. The former usually has bills on top; the latter is often bills included. The former has hard entry-requirements (e.g. income checks/limits and lots of up front fees); the latter is usually cheap/easy in/out.

In renting a room, she needs to AVOID renting with students as these are a different beast and she might end up with the full council tax liability.

FBaby

She is only 19 and only works a few hours. Why does she think that she is in a position to have a place of her own, even if sharing with someone? If she living with you at the moment?

Instead of focussing on what benefits she can get and looking for places, she needs to focus on finding full-time hours. The longer she stays at her current job, the better the chance of getting another job. Once she secures full-time hours, then she can plan her full indendepence.

Mojisola

JAHL wrote: »

My Grandaughter (19) has a part time job (16hrs with occasional overtime) - her parents are not together and neither will let her live with them.

She is doing the rounds of living room floors at the moment (including mine) and needs a stable environment.

FBaby wrote: »

Once she secures full-time hours, then she can plan her full indendepence.

It sounds as 'independence' has been thrust upon her - she hasn't chosen to live away from home.

duchy

I do think she either needs to lower her sights from a self contained flat to a room and/or increase her hours realistically.
Alternatively ironic as it sounds she may be better off at uni with a part time job to top up her income as well as improve her prospects.

If she has the confidence -would applying to rep abroad for a season starting April or May be a short term solution that might broaden her horizons a bit ?

Connextions may be a good port of call for advice for her for examining all her options..