Universal Credit - Money reduced because child in education.

sparkyuiop

_TinRibs_ said:

Now, what was I doing when I was 19.

I was on my way for an 18 month single mans draft to HMS Rooke in Gibraltar. Well before the border was open - great draft.

Previous to this, I had served on 2 ships. HMS Cygnet, HMS Sheffield (sunk in the Falklands). I had done two tours of Northen Ireland (HMS Cygnet was one of the NI patrol ships). Because of the tours, I had bagged myself my first General Service Medal (GSM).

The bloke needs to get a job!

I was actually going to say my father was in the navy and most of his family. I have huge respect for you guys so your last comment upset me somewhat.
If you knew my son you wouldn't even suggest that. He has an amazing mind and capability with numbers but he is not a hands on person. He is a millennial that does everything on a computer, a geek if you like. I think if an army sergeant shouted at him he would melt but he is a smart fast thinking young man that will thrive in the right environment. We can't change him, nor do we want to change him and what gives us the right anyway?  We all want to our kids to succeed in something they are good at and hopefully they will contribute to the better of mankind. 
Anyway I will be in prison before he has to leave college. I hate to say that but it's true.

baza52

so you agree he needs to work to pay for his living expenses.
Rather than use your efforts to help him get benefits or funding your energy would be better used in helping him gain employment.
At this point even a paper round would help with the family finances. Can he not use a bike car etc to deliver for one of the many fast food delivery companies or perhaps get a seasonal Job in a supermarket or other business that does a lot of trade around Christmas and need extra staff?
If you dont find a way of him helping you with the bills you will end up all suffering and potentially being in debt or losing your home.

Time for a wakeup call for all of you.

baza52

sparkyuiop said:

_TinRibs_ said:

Now, what was I doing when I was 19.

I was on my way for an 18 month single mans draft to HMS Rooke in Gibraltar. Well before the border was open - great draft.

Previous to this, I had served on 2 ships. HMS Cygnet, HMS Sheffield (sunk in the Falklands). I had done two tours of Northen Ireland (HMS Cygnet was one of the NI patrol ships). Because of the tours, I had bagged myself my first General Service Medal (GSM).

The bloke needs to get a job!

I was actually going to say my father was in the navy and most of his family. I have huge respect for you guys so your last comment upset me somewhat.
If you knew my son you wouldn't even suggest that. He has an amazing mind and capability with numbers but he is not a hands on person. He is a millennial that does everything on a computer, a geek if you like. I think if an army sergeant shouted at him he would melt but he is a smart fast thinking young man that will thrive in the right environment. We can't change him, nor do we want to change him and what gives us the right anyway?  We all want to our kids to succeed in something they are good at and hopefully they will contribute to the better of mankind. 
Anyway I will be in prison before he has to leave college. I hate to say that but it's true.

Wanting to and needing to are completely different things.
He is not a child and if he is as clever as you think he is why is he doing the course now that he should of done at school?
The average age to start Uni here is 18 not 20

Spoonie_Turtle

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right. I don't have any idea what your chances of success are for that though, unfortunately. Not my area of expertise.

I think some people underestimate how many people with plenty of experience are looking for work right now and overestimate how many vacancies there are. There's also the issue of whether jobs are feasible, whether the person can get to the workplace without having to travel for hours each way and spend half their wages on transport costs.

baza52

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right. I don't have any idea what your chances of success are for that though, unfortunately. Not my area of expertise.

I think some people underestimate how many people with plenty of experience are looking for work right now and overestimate how many vacancies there are. There's also the issue of whether jobs are feasible, whether the person can get to the workplace without having to travel for hours each way and spend half their wages on transport costs.

there are always unskilled jobs available. People with experience do not want minimum wage jobs but they are there waiting to be filled
Beggars cant be choosers and there is no shame in taking any job to keep your family afloat

baza52

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right. I don't have any idea what your chances of success are for that though, unfortunately. Not my area of expertise.

I think some people underestimate how many people with plenty of experience are looking for work right now and overestimate how many vacancies there are. There's also the issue of whether jobs are feasible, whether the person can get to the workplace without having to travel for hours each way and spend half their wages on transport costs.

50% of something is far better than 100% of nothing when your getting behind with bills and cant make ends meet.

Spoonie_Turtle

baza52 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right. I don't have any idea what your chances of success are for that though, unfortunately. Not my area of expertise.

I think some people underestimate how many people with plenty of experience are looking for work right now and overestimate how many vacancies there are. There's also the issue of whether jobs are feasible, whether the person can get to the workplace without having to travel for hours each way and spend half their wages on transport costs.

there are always unskilled jobs available. People with experience do not want minimum wage jobs but they are there waiting to be filled
Beggars cant be choosers and there is no shame in taking any job to keep your family afloat

No, my point (which I failed to make clear) was that even for so-called 'unskilled' jobs employers usually tend to prefer people with employment history than those without. Few vacancies - fewer even than before, when it was already tough - plus huge numbers of jobseekers makes for extremely tough competition. 

I do understand your point but I really don't think it's as easy as you make out. Normally there would be loads of retail jobs around now but when businesses are folding and having to lay off staff, those jobs just aren't there.

I'm sure the OP's son would appreciate specific suggestions for the types of jobs that are apparently in great abundance, to help his search.

baza52

Spoonie_Turtle said:

baza52 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right. I don't have any idea what your chances of success are for that though, unfortunately. Not my area of expertise.

I think some people underestimate how many people with plenty of experience are looking for work right now and overestimate how many vacancies there are. There's also the issue of whether jobs are feasible, whether the person can get to the workplace without having to travel for hours each way and spend half their wages on transport costs.

there are always unskilled jobs available. People with experience do not want minimum wage jobs but they are there waiting to be filled
Beggars cant be choosers and there is no shame in taking any job to keep your family afloat

No, my point (which I failed to make clear) was that even for so-called 'unskilled' jobs employers usually tend to prefer people with employment history than those without. Few vacancies - fewer even than before, when it was already tough - plus huge numbers of jobseekers makes for extremely tough competition. 

I do understand your point but I really don't think it's as easy as you make out. Normally there would be loads of retail jobs around now but when businesses are folding and having to lay off staff, those jobs just aren't there.

I'm sure the OP's son would appreciate specific suggestions for the types of jobs that are apparently in great abundance, to help his search.

oh come on, lets be real about this. OP's son is not even looking for a job and the OP fully supports him not looking.
What's the point in him even going to Uni if there are plenty of over qualified people in line for the job he wants to get with no previous experience.
Jobs are still there and the cheaper minimum wage employees will be more sought after than ever.

huckster

Job availability depends on where you live and whether there are transport options to be a reliable employee. Plus a flexible approach is needed in regard to job type.
Where I live there are warehouse, some retail, construction, factory operatives, couriers. But job availability is patchy, with people living in some areas of the country having fewer options.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sparkyuiop said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

yksi said:

As a responsible adult he should be helping to support himself. Choosing to study but not apply for the funding you mentioned earlier is his choice. 

What funding? Genuine question; I reread the thread to see what I'd missed but I still can't find what you're referring to.

Actually Spoonie Turtle we just found out he isn't entitled to student finance yet anyway so you're right, it seems there is no funding whatsoever. 

In that case it seems your only chance for support is to argue that he is not in full-time education and can therefore claim UC in his own right

I can't see that working and not the best idea in my opinion. OP was claiming the child element for the Son because they were in full time education. Saying they are no longer doing this so they can claim UC could be seen as benefit fraud.