Leaving school - is this true?

zaax

They should all get a job. If eastern Europeans can jobs in the UK surely locals can?

Penny-Pincher!!

The_Last_Username wrote: »

I really don't know the answer to your first question Penny-Pincher; sorry.
BTW it seems LO is 10 & not in secondary school yet.
AND ..... as the father is a colleague, I don't see (cerainly short-term) exactly HOW he will get a better-paid job.

Maybe the DD could get a pt job and do evening classes to finish up? Theres loads of courses out there, but will depend on whats she's studying? If she likes accounting, there are some good book keeping courses which take 12-14 weeks one evening a week and a decent qualification at the end of it which would enable her to get a half decent wage.

With regards to the dad, Im just trying to see if it could be a possibility in earning more? If he has been doing the same job role for a while, he could see if there are any higher paid openings coming up within the company he's in, or be bashful and use own initiative to contact other similar companies stating previous experience etc?

Im only try to give options. Sorry if Im not helping. It may be good for the mum to get a job as she'll have to eventually anyway, or maybe get herself more employable by starting on a college course or back to work course now for the future? Is she qualified in any particular field? It does seem a little unfair that if she's fit and able to not be helping out with the household income if she can do so.

Celyn

The_Last_Username wrote: »

...
So, are they supposed to just somehow cope?

Makes me particularly cross as I personally know of MANY young mums this girl's age who were pregnant at 15 or 16.
THEY are being housed AND are on benefits (Yes, I DO know this for fact).
My point being that my friends are saying that they will be worse-off financially than these young mums & their families.
Seems wrong to me.
SO - your thoughts?

If this school-leaving girl cannot find a job, then she can sign on to claim Jobseeker's Allowance.

FBaby

Celyn wrote: »

If this school-leaving girl cannot find a job, then she can sign on to claim Jobseeker's Allowance.

And the agree to look after sibling after school if they can't be left alone whilst mum gets a job (or vice versa).

AngelOfTheNorth

Londonsu wrote: »

oh that's just made me laugh I left school and got a job at age 15 and was married and running my own home at age 17
18/19 is old enough for her to stand on her own two feet

If you left school at 15, that was a good few years back, and the world is a very different place now. There are 18 and 19 year olds who do support themselves, but certainly the employment opportunities are considerably less than they would have been during the period you did it. Particularly as OP says they live in an area with few jobs.

That said, you're right to take OP to task on the claim that the family either have to expel the daughter or support her until she can stand on her own two feet, because there's JSA. It may not be a huge amount but £57 a week should cover her food and toiletries. It is a bit much that OP is complaining about welfare being afforded to other parents to look after their children, when they were clearly happy for their friend to receive it for some years and apparently want this to continue into the child's adulthood. You either support child related benefits or you don't, it isn't one rule for your friends and one for everyone else. And as others have pointed out, having three adults in the household and the youngest child of school age gives them a lot more flexibility in terms of splitting childcare.

Spendless

The_Last_Username wrote: »

A VERY poor area here for work of any kind; by far the majority of employment is in the seasonal holiday industry. SO - your thoughts?

I was wondering why Mum couldn't find seasonal work and maybe a christmas temp job. Even if youngest is 10, there could be childcare options like after school clubs or childminders, if eldest child isn't at home at the same time.

Then I thought again and what I suspect has happened, is that due to one parent being a low earner, the family income has been topped up by tax credits, so it has been considered 'not worth it' (financially) for Mum to be at work. The problem with making a decision like that as your friend is finding out is that when a change of circs come about, such as the child/ren leaving education then the income stops too.

SkyeKnight

Spendless wrote: »

I was wondering why Mum couldn't find seasonal work and maybe a christmas temp job. Even if youngest is 10, there could be childcare options like after school clubs or childminders, if eldest child isn't at home at the same time.

Then I thought again and what I suspect has happened, is that due to one parent being a low earner, the family income has been topped up by tax credits, so it has been considered 'not worth it' (financially) for Mum to be at work. The problem with making a decision like that as your friend is finding out is that when a change of circs come about, such as the child/ren leaving education then the income stops too.

It still won't be worth it though, because they have a younger child. If the mum works they will lose HB, Council Tax Support, Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits -- probably at a rate of around 90p for every pound she earns. She may well have to get a job paying £500+/week to make up that missing £80 in benefit.

allen35

The family should of still been receiving Child Benefit for their eldest if the course and her education was continuous, this can continue until the day before their 20th birthday.

You have to have claimed Child Benefit before they reach the age of 19, I would contact HMRC and ask, it seems they never renewed in Sep'14 when you are meant to inform CB office that the young person is still in FTE.

Paul_1977

I only had to read the first few sentences.

"that when his teen daughter finishes 6th form soon they will be approx. £80+ PER WEEK out of pocket!
YET ..... they are still supposed (somehow) to support her."

They are still supposed to support her?

No they are not, she can get a job.

I really cannot stand the cradle to grave attitude.

Mojisola

Paul_1977 wrote: »

I really cannot stand the cradle to grave attitude.

I like that we have cradle to grave support for those who need it - it's the expectation of financial support when you're fit and well that's bad.