AIBU to encourage my 18-year-old daughter to claim Universal Credit?

[ThisTealWarrior]

My daughter is 18 and no longer in education. She currently as a job (7.5 hours per week) and is waiting to start another job pending DBS checks. I advised her to make a claim for UC at the beginning of September before she was offered this position. She had to go to a meeting at the job centre this morning to start the claim and weekly check in video calls until she starts the job. This won’t be fixed hours as it is a bank staff role.
She has made such a fuss about it saying it is pointless basically acting like claiming is beneath her! We don’t charge her any board and don’t intend to after she earns more either but I have explained that technically we could. I just think it’s important to claim if she is eligible and also explained about NI contributions for when she gets older. I have explained that at some point the hope will be that she is earning enough that she doesn’t need to claim but for now she should.
Am I being unreasonable?

I don’t agree she should claim. Her needs are being met by you - her parent (as they should be) and she can work for any ‘wants’ as that’s how life works.

They might say that but they dont .
They will offer it after 19 but there is an expectation that 16 -18 year olds will have to do the GCSE .

It was Bolton college in greater manchester
Even the career advisor said it was difficult to do functionsl skills prior to 19.

I don’t know if this helps or hurts but Bolton College put 300 under 19 students through functional skills last year. But suspect those might be on specific pathways.

you’re right though that it is so frustrating to know what your child needs and not be able to get it. I get why we push for a GCSE but the reality is most resitters still don’t pass.

She asked for more hours several times, she was ignored by her manager. They were then advertising for more staff and she had someone shadow her on the weekend. Hence why she wants to leave there and find something else as she doesn’t feel that she is being treated fairly.

There are parents who can't afford to lose child benefit and continue to support their child's journey into work while they live without paying any rent or board. It doesn't make them morally inferior if their child puts in a claim for universal credit while seeking full time work.

Well indeed. That is the point the yabu’ers are trying to make. UC is for those who NEED it. Not those who don’t.
I guess no one knows what will happen if the government decide that they need to stop giving out X in benefits as it’s too much, but one of the possibilities is that it’s reduced for all, including those who always needed it, as a result of people taking it who don’t need it.

And we wonder why the country is broke.

FML

I’ve got a good suggestion. If everyone on this post who claims child benefit for your child or children phone the service tomorrow and stop your claim. Because you don’t need it do you? You are legally entitled to it but how dare you morally take something that you don’t really need.
Why do they put these things in place if people should not claim for it? As we have looked into my DD is eligible as a job seeker in what was previously called job seekers allowance now UC.

Lots of people don’t take benefits even if they are entitled to them - I didn’t when I separated from my husband - I managed until I got a job. Morally I don’t think people should claim unless their household properly needs it - it’s supposed to be a safety net.

I personally wouldn’t want my child claiming at 18 - I think it sends the wrong message.
If you can afford to support them and encourage them to get a job I’d be doing that.

Well in my case when DS finished school I lost child benefit, lost maintenance from his father and my single person council tax discount ended. I don’t earn a bad wage but I needed him to be able to contribute something while he worked incredibly hard to find a job. I’m sure one day his taxes will be contributing to your state pension, which is something that may not even exist when he’s old.

I don't claim child benefit...

The point is she shouldn't be eligible.

Why not if she's seeking work?

Fair.

Exactly, if she wasn’t legally entitled to do so it would say on the government website.

Just do it if you think it’s fine to do, what’s one more I suppose. I’m not sure why you are asking if YABU or not as you’ve clearly made up your mind.

I would imagine she’s ’entitled’ to it as it would be too hard/possibly impossible for the government to know which 18 year olds are being supported at home, and which are not. You could possibly do it by parents income, but even that wouldn’t tell you, as for various reasons the parents could just not support. So, the government has little choice but to offer it to all 18 year olds not in education. And then it does become a moral issue and/or what message do you want your child to learn.

But she is and you dont make the rules ...

Exactly. Whether or not she claims it is entirely down to her / your morals.

I’ve never claimed child benefit or disability for my ADHD / ASD child, because the money is not essential for our lives and would just be spent on extras.

So you won’t fund your own child but expect the taxpayer to do so. Interesting.

no OP of course you shouldn’t be encouraging your teenager for tax payer funded social welfare. Get her to do some babysitting.

I'd claim and expect my kids to claim in the same circumstances.

My parents made me claim. They stopped paying for things and I was expected to fund my own meals, phone etc, put petrol in the car etc.
It made me realise benefits would cover literally nothing and if I wanted to live well, I needed a proper job. It really gave me a kick up the arse.
I should add we now have a household income of £300k+ so did it work? Damn sure.

I've paid an insane amount in tax in my lifetime. I would have no problem that tax being spent on teaching kids a valuable life lesson.

If you are entitled, claim. It's not about only taking it if it's needed. Many who receive child benefit don't need it. The issue is not claimants making short term claims. The issue is longer term claimants who aren't forced off the system into work when they should be. Maybe if more people claimed, they would crack down on people who "choose" to be part time because it suits them.

You are doing her no favour by not charging lodge. 1/3 of the income is my bench mark as a starting point fi contribute towards family home. I’m very used to these negotiations professionally and with friends!

Living isn’t free. We all have to contribute and pay our way. The sooner she learns that the better. She also needs to take part in household tasks.

And Yes to claiming UC. Nothing quite like the weekly work coach to motivate her into finding work. She’ll be expected to look for 35 hrs in total even if a combo of jobs.

Both my DC were at university at 18, however post university or whilst between jobs in their early 20s both had to claim benefits to pay their way - as a lone parent I was struggling myself
It was only briefly as DS got an internship within 3/4 months and DD had 2 job offers pending but due diligence meant it was months before she could start