What do you practically do if your adult child wants to live at home but cannot find a job

[AsmallabodeIsallweWant]

This really; let's say you have an adult daughter who is mentally capable and is going into her 20s but does not know how to find a job. Let's say you don't mind her living with you, but does she need to apply for a benefit or ?

It is a question really.

Agree, but shes 20, what has she been doing since she left school, surely she can’t have been job hopping all that time

In the situation you describe, OP, I would definitely say she should apply for UC. The bank/hotel of mum and dad won’t be available forever, and she does need to start learning to be an adult. It sounds like some of the back to work sort of stuff she might have to do could be good for her.

Could be 18 months or so. Easily spent going from one short term/casual job.

I’m wondering about self-esteem.
Does this daughter not care that other adults her age are on their own and working and providing for themselves or contributing to the household?
You’d think a person would be embarrassed to be so reliant on their parent instead of on themselves with no ambition.
Could it be depression or something? I certainly understand that situation.
Depression paid a significant role in my life and while it isn’t an excuse, it does hold major sway over people’s day-to-day lives.

I think the daughter left school at 18 and has been trying some jobs, her mum asked for advice

I wouldn't encourage them to apply for UC until there was no other stone unturned. 'Settling ' for UC at 20 is very likely to lead to this young woman never getting a job. Why would she try, when she's getting money without getting out of bed?

Further than that, we really can't advise without knowing what has caused her to be sacked from the jobs she's had so far, what qualifications she has, and what options there are where she is.

Force her into taking on an absolute minimum of £28,600 of debt with no clear financial benefit?

If she can't keep hold of the kind of entry-level jobs that typically employ young people with no specific skills or qualifications what makes it more likely she would stay employed after a degree?

That's not quite what happens contrary to popular belief. People claiming UC have to evidence they are spending 35 hrs per week looking and applying for work or they get sanctioned! Or need a Dr's certificate. Neither are handed out like toffee.

She could walk into any of the supermarkets and get some shifts.
My local Tesco is full of Student and 20 somethings on the Tills or around the store, especially at the weekend.

It doesn't need to be full time to start, but she does need to be out there working some hours.
It's a downward slope otherwise.

No problem then, tell her we are all really happy to support her as a non productive member of society while she is makes herself unemployable.

Give copious amount of uninformed advice, to an ASD young person. When they start to provide a service to specifically support ND young people into work, we may engage.

I wound try every option but after that I'd be telling them they need to claim UC including housing element and charging them rent after all if they lived away from home they'd need to be paying rent.

Once someone reaches 18 they are an adult and need to stand on their own 2 feet. Given CofL parents should not be expected to subsidise kids, I agree neither should the tax payer but that's between the young adult and the state. Having to navigate Auckland and all of this would almost certainly focus them.

I would introduce them to this thing called the internet where there are multiple places to find a job of some form.

You can’t just “walk into a job” at Tesco, or any other supermarket. There is a proper, and quite competitive application process.

IMO adult kids are welcome to live at home so long as they a) contribute their part of the bills and b) do their portion of the household chores. Hopefully not having a job and the money that goes with it will get boring before long. She will need to be looking for jobs while on benefits anyway.

I would look into WHY she doesn't seem to want a job. You say she's okay, but surely she can't be? I mean, okay, who DOES want to have to work for a living? But it's just a fact of life, isn't it?

If she isn’t disabled or have severe special needs I would be expecting her to take on any job. With a view to taking extra qualifications and training as well. There is no way I would be comfortable with UC or anything else.

I'd find her a job. Or send her to her fathers to find a job. Its not difficult

This is a fair point and concern though. Support for ND is sorely lacking, but it's a post code lottery really.

Do you think that getting a job in a supermarket is easy and you can just apply and get a role?

It is imperative she works as she is likely to lose her confidence and start to endure mental health problems etc. It’s imperative she applies herself now and doesn’t give up.

I agree

Do they have social prescribers in your friends area? They are a service in my city - they can help with various different things (you get referred via GP, or go to a walk in appointment).

This might be a service that could help your friends daughter explore routes to take next.

Will pass that info

Give her a list of chores to be done 5 days a week until she finds a job. Do not give her money, food and toiletries only.

This is not the case everywhere. My DS applied at 4 supermarkets, only 1 got in touch and he still didn't get a job there.