Claiming benefits whilst doing an apprenticeship

If he is living at home, there is no possibility of him receiving housing benefit (local housing allowance) - this isn't allowed when close family live in the same property and the now non-dependent used to be a dependent. HB is never payable when the landlord lives in the same property as their lodger to whom they are related.

If he lives in his own digs, he should check the Local Housing Allowance rate for a room in a shared property on the LHA direct website. It is quite likely that if he is on a low wage and not eligible for much in the way of LHA compared to what his rent is, he will struggle.

His apprenticeship money is twice the rate of unemployment benefit. He may not get guaranteed employment from it, but is more likely to, compared to someone with no recent experience or skills gained during an apprenticeship. Best way to view it is as an investment, rather than focus on the risk.

You may find the Turn2us online benefit calculator helpful for calculating entitlement.

Also, he should download the MSE budget planner and work out his entire outgoings and work through the MSE website to find out how to cut his expenses. If he's not entitled to extra income, then he's simply going to have to control his costs.

If he was on JSA, he wouldn't get any help with running a car either.

bertiebots wrote: »

.. JSA is only £65 pw so its better than that surely?

That's the rate for older people. The OPs son will be elgible for £51.85 on JSA and then has his board to pay towards his keep.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

He is extremely lucky to even get an apprenticeship in this day and age.

£100 a week, say he gives you £30 a week for board.

That leaves him with a wopping £70 a week to call his own.

I bet you dont have £70 a week to call your own eh.
I know I wish I did.

I think the trick for the OP is to sell the apprenticeship on a glass half full basis - it's twice the rate of JSA and will catapult him past his under qualified and under experienced peers in future applications.

Rather than allow the boy to focus on the glass half empty - that it's half the minimum wage and there's no guarantee of a job (not that there's any job these days that are guaranteed...).

It's a shame that the financial millstone of running a car at that age is a factor that is making him think twice about what could be a good opportunity.

What are his other options, by the way? Does he have a university or college place? Another job lined up? Much in the way of skills, experience, qualifications? If the apprenticeship is not a go-er (they'll have lots of applicants anyway I imagine), what's plan B?

Hi, I have to agree, its to good an opportunity to give up.

Someone mentioned apprentiships in 1989, my OH did his YTS as it was then and managed whilst living at home on £29.00 per week. Its only for a year, which isn't long in the great scheme of things.

And, no I don't have £70.00 a week either to spend purely on me

Plus it isn't a question of remaining of JSA, you can't do that, the next job that comes along that your Son gets might be rubbish in comparison to the apprentiship and what that might lead to.