Benefits

What financial support is available?

The rules on benefits and young people are complicated. You can get advice on what and how to claim from your local Jobcentre Plus, Citizens Advice Bureau, or Connexions centre. The information below is offered as a guide only - please see a Personal Adviser who will be able to help you further.

If you're 16 or over you may be able to claim certain benefits or tax credits (government payments) if you're on a low income, looking for work, disabled, or caring for a child or older person.

Income Support

If you're over 16 and unable to work because you're a lone parent, a parent who has to stay home and look after your children, registered as a disabled person, or you're responsible for the care of a relative who is disabled you may be eligible for Income Support.

If you're a university student, on a training course, or in full-time education, you'll only be able to qualify under special circumstances. In this instance, any part-time work you take on may mean you lose your entitlement to Income Support.

If you're getting Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), this will not affect your Income Support claim.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

You can't usually claim JSA until you're 18, but there are exceptions. If you're 16 or 17, you will only be able to claim JSA in exceptional circumstances, for example, estrangement from your family leading to severe hardship.

Housing Benefit

You can claim Housing Benefit to help pay for your rent if your income and savings are below a certain level. If you're single and aged under 25 you can only get Housing Benefit for bed-sit accommodation or a room in shared accommodation. You cannot get Housing Benefit if you're living with your parents or other close relatives and paying rent to them. You won't usually be able to claim if you're a full-time student unless you're disabled or have children, but it's still worth checking.

Working Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit is a weekly payment to help towards your living costs. It's mainly available for people who are over 25, but if you're aged 16 or over and have children or a disability that affects your ability to work or look for work, you may also be able to claim it.

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is a weekly payment to help towards your living costs if you're 16 or over and have full responsibility for looking after a child (even if you're not the parent). How much you get depends on how many children you're responsible for, whether you live alone and the child's age. There are extra payments if the child is disabled.

Carers' Allowance

You may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if you're 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for the same relative, friend or neighbour who themselves claim certain other benefits.

Young parents

Remember that if you're under 20, you can also get financial help with your childcare if you're in college, at school, or taking part in a work-based learning programme from the Care to Learn scheme. You can also apply for Child Benefit, although this may affect the amount of other benefits you can get.

Employment and Support Allowance

If you're over 16 and have an illness or disability which affects your ability to work, you may be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance. You're usually only able to claim this if you've paid enough National Insurance contributions during your working life. However, you may still receive it if you're under 25 and satisfy certain conditions.

Disability Living Allowance

You may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance for yourself or on behalf of a disabled child if you're responsible for their care. The award looks at two things: level of mobility and the amount of care needed.

The Social Fund

You may be able to get financial help for some unexpected payments if you're already claiming Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and some other benefits. These include:

• budgeting loans
• crisis loans
• maternity grants if you're having a baby

Useful Websites

Job Centre Plus