Can my parents claim anything for me?

franki_xx

Hi all i usually lurk then post on MSE as i left a while ago but forgot my username

Anyway, back to on topic. Im 16, 17 in august. And i left school last year. I have a slight disability - how i walk , nothing major. I went college for around 2 weeks last september, didnt like it so i dropped, could not get EMA either. I dropped as college was not for me. Been looking for a job ever since, had no luck though. Both my parents work full time, dad works 5/6 days a week and mum works 3 days a week , not set days (12 hour shifts). Dad gets paid weekly, mum gets paid monthly. My dad has another son, who we do not see and dont intend to i dont think. And CSA are wanting around 110-150 pounds week, cant remember off the top of my head. And my dad earns around 200-220 a week. Mum earns around 400 a month? Not very accurate as i dont know. Anyway. I went connexions today, asked if i could claim money, they said no. I asked if my parents could get child benefit for me as i have read online they can. But the woman said you can claim it ffor upto 20 weeks after leaving school. My parents have not claimed it, is there a chance they could have it back tracked? I am constantly looking for a job, which is getting me down as i spend money which i cant afford going town and filling applications, sending my c.v in to places, and giving my c.v into shops. Its beyond a joke sadly.

My parents cannot afford to keep me either. They keep telling me to get a job, but i cant if it was that simple i would of course. It is coursing arguements at home, between all 3 of us. And my parents are going without, such as clothes which they have had for years.

I dont want to go into to much of my friends life, but a friend of mine her dad went prison last month (accused of touching a girl up). And her mum has a new partner, they both work full time. And now she lives with her sister aged 19 .. her sister works full time. My friend can recieve money when surely her mum should be paying some towards it but im not sure .

I dont want to be on the dole all my life, its just a bit of money would come in handy for food etc. And would course less stress.


Is there anything i can do? I have gone through stuff for money, which my parents dont know about. And i am ashamed off, due to the stress of money problems.

I will be calling the job center tomorrow as i have nothing to lose, neither do i making a thread.

If worse comes to worse, in a few weeks i will find accomidation e.g. a hostel as it would make my life less stressful (parents off my back). It gets me down a lot sadly.


Sorry about the long thread. Basically, is there anything i can claim while i am looking for a job?

thanks

[Deleted User]

I doubt there is anything that can be claimed tbh,have you tried looking for jobs online(the jobcentre is avaliable online)or signing up with local employment agencies?Have you tried putting a cv together and sending it with a covering letter to large local employers(supermarkets etc?)
I cant understand why your dad has to pay the csa £110-150 per week for one child unless hes paying off arrears,but thats non of my business.
Keep talking to your parents,show them what you are doing to find work and try and involve them in your search for a job,that way they will be abit more positive towards you hopefully,also if the figures you quote for your parents income are correct i`m baffled as to why you couldnt get EMA,did you apply?
Good luck with the job hunting,i`m sure something will turn up
John
ps the 20 weeks missed family allowance,its unlikely this could be back-dated

franki_xx

Im not sure to be honest about the CSA sorry .. alls i know is it is a lot of money, and my parents cant afford it. I have been sending my c.v to as many places as possible, woolworths, shoe zone, etc .... and also looked on my local news paper site, and the job center plus too ! And i go connexions a lot .. still no joy ... and i did apply for EMA yes, i could not get anything though. Thats a shame about child benefit, if i have not got a job by september which i should have im hoping ! I think my parents can apply for extended child benefit. Thank you for the gl, and information. Theres no harm in calling the job center though .. just to see what they say as they should know more then connexions about the money situation ! cheers xxx

Mips

Have you considered a Modern Apprenticeship? Connexions should be able to get you onto one of them no problem - possibly only £80 a week and maybe reimbursement of travel fees, but you will be gaining NVQ's whilst you do it.

It will keep you out of the house and it will keep your parents happy perhaps?

Loopy_Girl

Were you not Stokechick that had the job at Greggs but didn't go back?

Edinburghlass_2

The child benefit would have been paid last year until the August/September after you left school. It can only continue to be paid when in further education and as you left then no.

LondonDiva

Do you have a local supermarket or Macdonal's near you? They are always desperate for staff and pay very reasonably.

bestpud

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Were you not Stokechick that had the job at Greggs but didn't go back?

There seems to be an influx of 16-17 year olds having this problem at the moment! I have wondered several times if it is the work of one, or maybe two posters, but thought I was perhaps getting cynical in my (not so) old age! :think:

John38_2

The reason its so hard is because the Government don't want 16 year olds dropping out of school.

I don't see why taxpayers should finance somebody who has turned down 3/4 years of FREE LSC funded education.

I think dropping out of College without a job lined up was a very silly idea to be honest.

Obviously I don't know what it's like in your area, but around here, there are tons of unskilled and semi skilled workers needed.

Go on the Job Centre website and search for every full time job going within 5 miles of your post code. Surely there is one you can do? Even if it was cleaning, you'd still do it if you were that desperate.

Alternatively, look at what College Courses and Apprenticeships are available in your area. I'm positive there will be one you could enjoy.

Some pay an £80 a week allowance, some pay travel expenses, and some pay £30 a week EMA. Also, your parents will still get Child Benefit for you, and you'll get free dental care, prescriptions, etc etc.

Also, in regards to your parents finances, I haven't yet seen a reason why they can't both work full time, and if they did, they'd earn at least £23,000 a year combined, and thats presuming they're only on the national minimum wage, not taking into account any tax credits or anything.

John38_2

You also wont be able to claim housing benefit to pay the rent for a hostel, because you're under 18, and not estranged for your parents.

The system is specifically in place to stop people like you creaming off the state. No offence, but I think that if things really were that bad you'd get some qualifications behind you.

I'm your age and on benefits, but for entirely different reasons alltogether.

We already pay far too much tax in this country, and most of that goes on funding the welfare state (not guesswork, but written in the budget).

16 year old, can't be bothered to stay on and get qualifications, can't (or won't) get a job, lives at home, parents pay all the bills and for all the food, and now wants to claim money off the Government.

The tax bill would go through the roof!

Sorry mate, but its a harsh world, and at our age, relying on benefits should be a very last resort.

Edinburghlass_2

Lots of help in this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=882265