17 yr old living alone HB?

giddypenguin

Purhaps she could speak to the college? I know some education providers have to provide financial support to some students - they might have some support she can access?

£80pw rent does not sound like a bargain to me (unless in London maybe) uni shared houses are £60-70 in most cities and those students have grants to live off.

Can she find another job? I think I was on more than £3.60 an hour when I was waitressing while doing my a levels/degree 10 years ago!

Agency work is good, also check hotels - they usually need casual staff to cover big events (and may have limited casual staff at the moment as the students are home for summer - if you live in a student area)

HappyMJ

Mrs_Muckle wrote: »

I have not claimed child benefit for 2 years and I do pay maintenance for her. Why would you think I do not pmlindyloo. I have never had tax credits for her. I was working until last year, 45 hours a week.

I was not aware that income support still existed so will look into that. She may get more hours at work once she is established and knows what she has to commit to college. She is doing a professional chefs level 2, a three year course.

HappyMJ what are students in college supposed to pay rent with? It seems unfair that she should be penalised through no fault of her own, or mine come to that.
No woodbine, not Chelsea, but the reason she is called a benefactor is because not many places take under 19 year olds. We have been grateful for the place tbh. Just got to find a way to make it work.

Earnings, student loans, grants...lot's of ways to pay the rent whilst studying full time. HB is not one of them.

If she wishes to study part time whilst looking for a job she may once she's 18 be entitled to JSA and if in payment that will passport her to full housing benefit.

You do know that HB for under 35 year old's is only the room in a shared home rate. In my area the LHA rate is only £60 a week exclusive of bills. That doesn't get you much of a room....and as she's under 25 she'll only get £57.90 from IS or JSA to pay for her gas, electricity, water, mobile phone, travel, clothing and groceries/food. It's not enough. It's nowhere near enough. If she earns anything it's deducted pound for pound from JSA until there's zero payment. You said she worked part time so it's unlikely she'll get anything. If she worked just a very small amount of just 12 hours a week at minimum wages for an 18 yr old (assuming she's not far off 18) of £5.13/hour she'd get nothing.

jinxyjane

Mrs_Muckle wrote: »

Duchy I find that rather judgemental, I have paid high rate tax for over 30 years. We now find ourselves in a very difficult situation. My daughter has not caused the situation and neither have I. It is just too complicated and too painful to explain. She should have been able to go to college last year at 16 but due to her circumstances she could not.

Now she is trying to better herself it seems that she is being thwarted at every turn. She will work, and has done before, but she cannot earn enough when the wage for her age is under £4 an hour. She would have to work 100 hours a month just to pay rent, she has transport costs to work and college.

You know what I give up, she can claim jsa, sit on her bum do nothing, next year shell out a kid, then another, that is 12 years. We will worry about it then.

How much is she gonna cost your tax payer then duchy

I know it's hard but try not to get too upset when people make judgemental comments, you will get a lot of that on here, and some also don't recognise sarcasm either.


But you will also get lovely people who will try to help where they can, just keep calm and ignore any nasty comments, at the end of the day you may find someone who can help, it may just be a little hard when people don't know all the finer details, hope your daughter gets it sorted out.

Topcat1982

Mrs_Muckle wrote: »

I have not claimed child benefit for 2 years and I do pay maintenance for her.

.

So the benefactor is getting child maintenance, child benefit and child tax credit and £350 a month rent? Is there accommodation at the college? would that work out cheaper

pmlindyloo

Mrs_Muckle wrote: »

I have not claimed child benefit for 2 years and I do pay maintenance for her. Why would you think I do not pmlindyloo. I have never had tax credits for her. I was working until last year, 45 hours a week.

I was not aware that income support still existed so will look into that. She may get more hours at work once she is established and knows what she has to commit to college. She is doing a professional chefs level 2, a three year course.

HappyMJ what are students in college supposed to pay rent with? It seems unfair that she should be penalised through no fault of her own, or mine come to that.
No woodbine, not Chelsea, but the reason she is called a benefactor is because not many places take under 19 year olds. We have been grateful for the place tbh. Just got to find a way to make it work.

I have reread my post several times and cannot find anything in it to suggest that I am being judgemental.

The majority of parents in this situation would have been claiming child benefit. No where did you suggest that you had been working before, just that you were currently claiming a benefit which means that you were eligible for child tax credit. You also did not mention how long ago your daughter left home.

I mentioned both in case you were claiming then and to avoid an overpayment.

I gave you the information you needed and a link to back it up.

I am sure this must be a worrying situation to be in and instead of accusing people of being judgemental it might be polite to just say 'thank you' for the information. (but thank you for pressing the button - just noticed!)

Your daughter could also ask at college if there are any grants which are available in this situation. Her college will have a welfare officer for this situation. Grants may affect her eligibility for income support.

CAB may be a place to visit for further help.

Mrs_Muckle

marliepanda wrote: »

What a disgusting way to talk about your daughter.

I am glad she is out of your home

The bit about the babies and jsa was sarcasm!

Mrs_Muckle

The benefactor does not get any of these benefits as daughter has been out of education for a year so all that went. Maintenance goes straight to daughter. This is someone who has a room in their house and let's it out to vulnerable young people. it was hard to find anywhere for her.

Asking the college is a good idea.

She has had a notification of a £2,000 bursary in January. That will help. She cannot get a student loan or a grant. We have been told that because maintenance has been through her bank account for the last year she cannot get income support! ��

Andypandyboy

Colleges do provide a bursary in cases of low income.

Mrs_Muckle

Last point she isdoing a full time course, what she is doing is not Vailable part time.

BigAunty

Many colleges have hardship funds so your daughter should make an enquiry there. They may also have a counsellor/benefits advisor.

If she cannot afford the room through a combination of employment, education and perhaps benefit income, and the landlady serves her notice to leave and you cannot accept her back, she should make an application for homelessness with the local council.

If she is in England, and without disabilities or dependents, then possibly the council may not have a duty of care to help her. However, the Shelter website gives expert advice on her possible options and actual rights. Might be worth reading up on the lay of the land now.

When I was studying for A'levels, I worked 2 evenings a week and all weekend in a fast food place without it adversely affecting my studies, plus full time in all the vacations.

I went back to college a few years ago and found the workload very light, only around 20 hours or so per week at the college and very little in the way of homework. I could have easily worked 24 hours or more if I had the inclination. However, I imagine competition for even fast food vacancies is much higher now.