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Original poster

Is it better for DS to just try and find a job himself or go on Universal Credit?

62 replies

Sweeshhh · 29/10/2023 20:26

He's 18 and was working in an environment he really wasn't happy with.
He ended up giving a weeks notice and leaving.

He wants to just find a job in retail now or maybe something in manual labour.

Would it look better on paper if he just has a gap and finds himself a job or should he apply for UC?

He lives with me so has no income at all right now. It's not really an issue moneywise.

Will UC actually be able to help him find work? Or will it look bad that he's been claiming this at only 18?

OP posts:
Findyourneutralspace · 29/10/2023 21:31

Kickstart finished ages ago - it was a temporary thing through Covid. Shame because it was fantastic.

Thejackrussellsrule · 29/10/2023 21:32

Get him to apply for UC, he won't get a payment for 5 weeks, but even if he gets a hob quickly, it'll still help whilst he's waiting for his first wages.
There's lots of programmes and training available, also access to careers appointments, I'd encourage him to grab any opportunities he can if they're free. Has he considered an apprenticeship?

Thejackrussellsrule · 29/10/2023 21:33

Job not hob!

Interested in this thread?

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Benefits
Dotcheck · 29/10/2023 21:34

user1469796848 · 29/10/2023 20:28

Get him to find himself a job pronto. He should not get into mentality that the state is there to help him out.

Precisely

Mumaway · 29/10/2023 21:34

He should have started looking as soon as he made the decision to leave. He is clearly capable of work. It astounds me that he left without having something else set up.

Beezknees · 29/10/2023 21:38

I was made redundant in July and the Jobcentre did absolutely nothing to help me find work, I did it all myself so I wouldn't count on him getting much support.

Terfosaurus · 29/10/2023 21:39

My DS has had to claim UC as he cannot get a job. Despite everyone claiming its easy to get one it really isn't.

The JC haven't done a lot to help him get a job. They told him about a job fair, that we already knew about and an online course that's in the field he wants to work in.

Other than that they've cancelled 3/5 of his appointments.

RantyAnty · 29/10/2023 21:40

What caused his confidence and mental issues?

That need to be addressed through therapy.

Can he go to university or some type of training?

He needs to build some work/study skills and that will lead to confidence.

Now is the time to build some resilience and work ethics or he'll struggle in life if he quits everything.

Hotchocolatemousse · 29/10/2023 21:42

Best thing to do is to apply for a seasonal Christmas job while he plans his next career move. This way he earns money, doesn't have an employment gap and has a bit of planning space.

I'd encourage him to do an apprenticeship, especially a higher level one where he can get a qualification whilst training on the job. Someone I know did this and is now a qualified mechanical engineer. She got day release to study whilst training and her sponsorship firm also gave her a summer job.

https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/england/higher-level-4-5

https://uk.indeed.com/q-higher-apprenticeship-jobs.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships

thesandwich · 29/10/2023 21:45

Princes trust may be worth looking at to build skills. Or volunteering to get experience.

unlimitedwallpaper · 29/10/2023 21:50

Don't think you can get UC if you chose to leave a job.

Spacecowboys · 29/10/2023 22:15

After three months of my ds applying for jobs/ apprenticeships (on a daily basis) and not having much success, he claimed universal credit. Why shouldn’t he have done? We, as his parents contribute to the system that enables out of work benefits in the first place and he was eligible. It’s handy for them to have a little of their own money whilst job searching. For jobs not requiring decent qualifications, there are a higher number of applicants so the competition is greater- it’s not always as easy as get a job, any job. Thankfully, he secured an apprenticeship a few weeks later. Job centre plus will send some job information to their online accounts but only limited ones and usually those that are hard to fill. However, they do also have a system in place ( in my locality) where certain jobs can only be applied for if you are in receipt of benefits. We also have a local employability service who work in conjunction with local companies. You attend workshops and are then guaranteed a job interview on completion ( benefit claimants are prioritised for this too). So yes, worth him claiming.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 29/10/2023 22:17

Dd got a job through her UC job coach with the civil service.
Apply if you think it might help him.

Cupcakekiller · 29/10/2023 22:42

I've managed to find my 17 yo ds work while he's been in between dropping out of college and applying for an apprenticeship. A lot of websites like Indeed make it very easy to apply for lots of lower level jobs- you just basically upload your CV. Get job hunting with him pronto before going on UC.

Sidebeforeself · 29/10/2023 22:47

Try Find A Job website

ShutTheDoorBabe · 29/10/2023 23:00

But the State is there to help us. We all pay in, either individually or as part of a household, so that we can take out when we need it.

Of course 18 year old should be able to claim UC whilst looking for a job because that's what it's there for - it pays his stamp for when he's older, they have targeted support for young people that can actually be beneficial, and they're more independent of their parents as they have their own money and can take the task of finding their own job into their own shoulders, like the adults that they are.

Blueggsandham · 30/10/2023 00:18

A local youth club may be able to help your son - helping young people to get into training, education or employment is something many youth workers have experience of.

He does need to get back on the horse asap, so he doesn't feel he's failed, whether education emoluments or training. An apprenticeship might be a idea, or a vocational further education course, with a day release component.

My first job was part-time in BurgerKing - the assistant manager was a horrible, micromanaging bully - she got away with it as we were generally young, and didn't stand up for ourselves. Looking back, she hated having to manage teenagers, and felt we were beneath her.

That your son had an awful time at work is quite likely due to poor management/supervisors, not down to any failing of his. I left one awful job after the first day, when I was about 23, and to be honest i'm still proud of younger me. Your son has extricated himself from a difficult situation which is proper selfcare. He's only 18, he has plenty of time to find out what he wants to do with his life. The few pps who fear he's coming for their taxes don't, I think, have any reasonable worries.

Doingmybest12 · 30/10/2023 06:41

What about contacting an agency?

ginandtonicwithlimes · 30/10/2023 06:59

I don't get the attitude here. UC is there for if you are unemployed. As long as he is actively looking for a job I don't see an issue. At least then he can contribute towards the household costs.

hattie43 · 30/10/2023 07:00

Nope benefits is not the way any 18 yrs old should be starting adult life. There are zillions of jobs crying out for workers . You should be helping him find work . Why do people expect the state to provide so much support all the time . No wonder the countries broke .

Shithole101 · 30/10/2023 07:01

My son went on to uc very briefly after his A Levels.. they were really strict kept telling him to go in to talk to him bring up jobs for him and job fairs etc. On the job fair they told him he cant leave till he gets an interview. He ended in a really crap job he hated. But it was just a stop gap whilst he was waiting for his course/job he does mow to come up.

I think they were strict with him because they did not want a young person to think uc is easy money.

cuckiemonsta · 30/10/2023 07:04

@Sweeshhh are you helping him find a job? I would be. I helped both of my boys get their first jobs, because they needed my help. There are lots of jobs out there but they needed my help to find them by searching online and to set up alerts on the big job sites like Indeed, whilst avoiding the many scam or exploitative jobs. You also have to navigate online application forms. Some of them "read" your CV and auto-fill, but often very badly, with text put in the wrong boxes, and other boxes left empty, so you then have to edit them. The forms don't tend to have spell-checkers, or grammar checkers, so if your son is used to relying on those, he may benefit from your help with proof-reading. I realised that my boys were very un-used to getting email, and so one of them sometimes missed instructions or invitations to interviews. I set up a new email account that we both had access to, so I could prod with reminders.

TerfTalking · 30/10/2023 07:10

He wants retail and a job now?

https://jobs.marksandspencer.com/christmas

taking applications now. Put some shit on the application about it being perfect as he’s hoping to retrain in the new year. Gives you breathing space.

M&S Christmas

https://jobs.marksandspencer.com/christmas

cuckiemonsta · 30/10/2023 07:15

Also, if he doesn't already have post-16 qualifications, when he turns 19 he'll be able to access these free courses to help him get the skills he needs for a job: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs

Free courses for jobs

Explains how to apply for a free level 3 qualification. These courses could help you improve your wage outcomes and job prospects, and gain skills that employers value.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs

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