16 Yr Old..Homeless?

ellas9602

My 16YO Step-DD’s best friend has been kicked out by her mum and has been staying at our house for the past week. She’s such a lovely girl and I feel so so sorry for her (I won’t go into it but her mum’s not great and this a common theme with her other 3 daughters, none of whom now speak to the mum)

We’ve been dropping her of at college with a pack up and feeding all other meals, she’s penniless. She has said that she is entitled to EMA (for students whose parents have low income?) but her mum has all the forms and never got round to sorting it.

I haven’t asked her about long term plans as…well she’s only 16 and terribly upset I don’t want her to feel rejected by us.

She has an appointment with college ‘hardship’ people tomorrow and I’m going to go with her in my lunch hour so I’m looking for some advice.
Is there anything in particular I should be asking for , for her, tomorrow? What will they do, put her in a flat? Contact social services?
Thanks for reading J

anguk

I'm sorry I haven't got any advice but my first thought is does she have any contact with her other sisters. If they have their own homes and living nearby maybe they could help out and she could stay with them.

pinkshoes

You/she could try contacting Connexions (http://www.connexions-direct.com/) who deal with this sort of situation frequently, so should be able to offer you/her some advice, or at least point you in the right direction!

They have branches in most large towns too I think, so you could call in...

ellas9602

Thanks Ang

She has one sister near, who’s 18 (bit of a party animal!) She called round to our house earlier this week to see how she was doing but no mention of taking her in. I don’t feel able to ask awkward questions but I guess that’s me and I’ll have to get over it.

mummy_Jay

First question has to be can she have another set of those EMA forms and is her mother signiture required.

I think all that you will find with the hardship fund is that they can give so much money to help but I doubt that they will be able to get her a flat and I think at 16 she may be a little old for social services (but I'm not sure). I think thay will be able to give advise and booklets.

I think they will ask her what/how much she wants and what for.

But here are some questions I come up with but they are more to get you think than for the hardship fund.

Are you intending letting her stay with you for the forseeable future (I know you don't want to leave her on the street but have you thought long term). If not you need to ask what they can do to help her with accomodation. Maybe living with her sisters is an option?

Have you spoken with her sisters about whats happening, if they've been through it they should be able to at the very least advise some of the finances availible

OK, here another question you may want to ask her, does she want to go to uni? if so maybe you should ask at this stage how she could fund it, they may be able to tell you companies that run scholaship or sponser her. It will give her the chance to investiage and a goal to set. Give her a reason to look to her future.

Rikki

If you take her in. Your OH will be able to claim her child benefit and maybe any tax credits if you are entitled. This could help her to start with.

As has been suggested before phone the EMA office and get a new set of forms. Getting her financial support to continue to study now is important. She needs something positive to focus on.

As for university, my son has just started uni with no financial support from me. There are loans and grants avaliable. This is not an immediate problem.


EDIT: The EMA application form has to be completed by the child and there is a form for the parent to sign and supply proof of income.

loopylass

She is entitled to EMA but it is based on parents income or person they live with you can get ema for 3 years but it is looked at every year you can get a claim form online or at college there should be an adviser you can speak to at college about this
If shes in college then her mum is still entitled to child benefit and child tax and i assume that if shes not living there then who ever is looking after her can claim as you will be the guardian(her mum might still be claiming although her daughter is not there)

My son went to college from the age of 16(his now 18 and still at college)

he gets EMA and we still get child benefit and child tax i rang both up the other month because i thought they both stopped when the child reaches 19 but they informed methey stop it at the age of 20

If you are thinking of looking after her long time then i think you should contact EMA(it will be based on your family income)the child claiming EMA can also work part time it does not affect the amount they will get)
Also contact the benefits office and ask about child benefit and child tax

I hope this has helped and i wish you all well

ellas9602

Hello
Thanks for all the advice. We’re taking them out tonight so I’ll sit her down and see what she feels about the future.
I guess I was roughly thinking that I’d like her to stay while she gets over the trauma probably through to the new year then help her get on her feet?
Our daughter is at college and not entitled to EMA, We get the tax element of tax credits but not the family element . We couldn’t afford another child! So seems like she would be better off financially without us?
Thaks for the link to connexions…very helpful.
x

ellas9602

Hello
Thanks for all the advice. We’re taking them out tonight so I’ll sit her down and see what she feels about the future.
I guess I was roughly thinking that I’d like her to stay while she gets over the trauma probably through to the new year then help her get on her feet?
Our daughter is at college and not entitled to EMA, We get the tax element of tax credits but not the family element . We couldn’t afford another child! So seems like she would be better off financially without us?
Thaks for the link to connexions…very helpful.
x

Fran

If she has been permanently kicked out then you should put in a claim for Child Benefit. However her mother might refuse to give it up easily and it would then be a duplicate claim which can take a while (months) to sort out as it requires the mother to answer correspondense as well as yourself. You might be entitled to Child Tax Credits depending on your income but the same might apply if her mother is unwilling to give it up easily. If your daughter is not entitled to EMA it sounds like she wouldn't be either if staying with you but it's worth making an enquiry as your family would be larger and it might bring you within the limit. She might be able to claim Income Support which can be paid to young people if kicked out of home - the claim would be made through your local Jobcentre Plus.

Perhaps you could phone her mother to see what's going on from her point of view and also mention Child Benefit.

laurawaite

hi, i have previously worked for social services in an admin capacity and there was a similar situation with a child that we were involved with and the social care team gave financial assistance to the friends family to help look after the child, as well as them claiming child benefit/tax credits etc. it was cheaper for them to do this than put the child in care as foster carers cost hundreds!! (also better for the child of course)

i would advise contacting social services and if they can't help they would be able to refer you to the right agency - connexions, district council housing dept etc.

good luck, i hope it all works out