To treat DSs pocket money like job seekers support?

[OverTheHammer]

Only half joking ...

But basically DS1 has left college, is 18 and has a (very) part time job - 8 hours a week, normally taking place on a weekend.

Since leaving college he's made a half arsed attempt to find a proper job but until recently has only applied for jobs that are £18k + a year. He's had two interviews, both unsuccessful. He has nothing at all set up for September.

He's only recently agreed to start applying for apprentiships rather than high paid jobs. Thing is, he's now barely even applying for anything! When I asked him today what he's applied for recently he admitted that at the moment, he's concentrating on enjoying summer!!!

He currently gets £15 a week pocket money as well as his phone contract and unlimited bus card paid for.

WIBU to stop giving him pocket money on a Friday unless he can prove he's applied for a certain amount of jobs? We live in a city so location is not the issue.

Absolutely do it! Sounds like he needs an kick up the arse incentive

YANBU

8 hours a week when he's not doing anything else is a joke.

Alternatively you could point out that last week of pocket money is last week of August, and what is he going to live off from September?

Oh, YANBU at all! My mum did something similar to me when I thought I couldn't be arsed to go to university and would prefer to be a full-time political activist. She basically told me I was welcome to but I'd have to move out and pay for my own expenses. Worked like a charm after three months in a squat I'd not only secured a spot at a university but had also discovered that I lacked the patience for consensus-based anarchist decision making my bourgeois side.

Can't he sign up for actual JSA? Then he will actually have to look for more work!

The day I turned 16, I happened to ask my dad for money for something which prompted the response 'you're old enough to get a job now, I'm not giving you any more money'. I went out the next day and gathered application forms, returned them the following day, had an interview the day after that and started my first job the day after that! Clearly it wasn't my dream job, but it kept me in Bacardi breezers and cheap make up until I left home!

Yes, he needs to get a job. Not 'the' job, but a job to earn while he decides his long term plan.

Isn't 18 too old for 'pocket money ', especially when he has a pt job and is now leaving ft education?

I would just tell him that the pocket money will end at the end of August. It will then be up to him to get a job or sign on for JSA.

My 18 year old doesn't get any pocket money and has to live off his savings and do housework in lieu of rent ( he left a previous job and so isn't eligible for any benefits), I have to nag a bit and he does moan occasionally but he also thanks me for keeping the pressure on.

He has it to easy.
No pocket money and a list of house hold jobs to do while he is not working should spur him into action

YANBU at all.
It has always been very clear to all of my dc that pocket money stops completely in the August after they turn 18 - ie, end of school / once they need to be an adult out in the world.
I'd let him know that - that you are serious that he won't have a penny coming in come the 1st September so needs to do a lot of saving now or seriously get on with applying for work - even if it isn't what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
2 of mine are "resting" at the moment, (1 after degree and 1 after A levels) but they do it around picking up shifts for their jobs and around doing various jobs around the house (as well as volunteering and doing sports etc).