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Original poster

Dss are finishing college and uni. No work for either yet.

49 replies

CuriousMama · 17/06/2019 01:07

Ds1 is 21 and just finished his law degree which he's looking to have done very well in. Ds2 is 18 and finishing a btec level 3 but applying for the navy. Neither have had jobs. Ds1 has managed ok so far but of course he's going to be back home whilst he waits to get a job. He's applied for a lot.

Can they get any benefits? I'm totally clueless when it comes to this. I just don't want dh and I to have to fund them both for months on end if they can get any financial help.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 17/06/2019 01:14

Your eldest is 21 and has never had a job?

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:15

Benefits?

Tavannach · 17/06/2019 01:15

I'm not sure, but I think they're eligible for Income based Jobseekers Allowance. I doubt they'd be eligible for Housing benefit.

JSA

JSA explained

MiniMum97 · 17/06/2019 01:15

They can apply for Universal Credit as jobseekers.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:16

Sorry, why would a 21 year old need to claim benefits?

Are you a low income family?

Can't he just pick up a job, I don't believe that it's as hard as people make out; the only difficulty will be that he doesn't want to take the job because he is over qualified.

Pipandmum · 17/06/2019 01:16

After I graduated I got a job in a department store while trying to get a job in the field I’d studied for. I think I worked there fir seven months in the end. Gave me a routine, some money and also reinforced my desire to keep trying! There’s no reason your kids couldn’t get a job, any job, while applying.

MiniMum97 · 17/06/2019 01:17

There are no new claims for income related Job Seekers Allowance.

Tavannach · 17/06/2019 01:17

Your eldest is 21 and has never had a job

OP states clearly that he's been in full-time study.

VimFuego101 · 17/06/2019 01:17

I think any job is better than no job - what do you have near you? Retail stores/ restaurants they can pick up hours with while they hunt for a permanent job related to their degree?

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2019 01:20

McDonald's are always hiring. And a crappy job out of college really makes you appreciate a real one. Benefits don't. I volunteered as well for experience.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:21

OP states clearly that he's been in full-time study.

So it's not wrong that he hasn't had a job then?

Literally thousands of students have jobs. It's totally normal.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 17/06/2019 01:21

It is very hard where we live to get work. He's applied for lots of jobs whilst studying. He did some casual work over Christmas. A lot say you need experience. Plus they had inheritance money so tbh were spoilt with that but it doesn't last forever.

Thanks for the helpful replies.

OP posts:
Tavannach · 17/06/2019 01:25

Literally thousands of students have jobs. It's totally normal.

Term time work is not permitted at Cambridge. So holiday work if you can get it, and OP says he's had casual work.

NerrSnerr · 17/06/2019 01:28

I agree with pp, they both need work. McDonalds, pubs, the co-op, picking vegetables etc. It might also be worth them looking at summer holiday camps, some of them look for 'assistants'.

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2019 01:38

Spending inheritance then wanting benefits makes me immediately angry. I'm fighting the urge because it's not your fault but FFS!

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:39

OP says he's had casual work.

After my post Confused

I took 'neither have had jobs' from the OP.

The casual work thing was posted after my comment about them not having jobs.

Broken11Girl · 17/06/2019 02:45

Jobseeker's allowance and Housing benefit are being replaced by Universal Credit. They should be able to claim it while looking for work. It won't be much if they're living at home, but will cover their everyday expenses - not sure what happens if you need or want them to pay rent, towards bills etc, you would at least need a formal written agreement.
Calculators like Entitledto.co.uk will tell you more.
And to some posters, no it's not as easy as 'just get a job'. Even McDonalds etc want experience, and will reject kids who are looking for graduate/ career jobs - why expend effort training them when they will be off to those in a few months, in this case the forces and law. I experienced this as a new graduate, and the job market is so much worse today.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 07:10

not sure what happens if you need or want them to pay rent, towards bills etc, you would at least need a formal written agreement

Why would they need a formal agreement? Surely a verbal one like any other DC living at home would suffice?

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 17/06/2019 07:21

Can they both sign up for agency work? There are plenty around for casual work. I did door work / waitressing / hospitality in the holidays between my university years and while trying to get legal Jobs.
Even doing well in a law degree isn't a guarantee of a training contract. Can he look at insurance companies and loss adjusters? Often a stop gap between legal studies and traineeships. What's his plan for the SQE?

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 17/06/2019 07:24

I've had a number of fast food restaurant jobs, temp jobs and casual agency work while studying to become a lawyer and while interviewing etc. He will need to make sure that in order to earn while he looks for jobs suited to his degree, that's he's not being too fussy.
Personally I wouldn't be encouraging either to sign on while perfectly capable and fit and healthy.

wigglybeezer · 17/06/2019 07:29

You can still get child benefit for 18 year olds who are waiting to join the join the armed forces, possibly only if they've been accepted but are waiting for their training place to start, it's been a while since I read the small print.

stucknoue · 17/06/2019 07:30

There's loads of casual work out there (not well paid but more than £75 a week they will get on uc). Help them get cv's together and upload them to temp agencies, meanwhile for the elder they should be applying to graduate programmes too

wigglybeezer · 17/06/2019 07:35

It depends where you live, I live rurally and it's a struggle for youngsters to find work unless they have a car. Employers aren't keen on employing people they have to train up who then leave and contracts can be very inflexible even for part time jobs, time off for interviews could lead to the sack. It's not as straight forward as some make out.

blackcat2345 · 17/06/2019 07:44

This makes me so cross.. surely part of a parent's job is to encourage a work ethic and level of self-responsibility?

Not just throw money at DC and wonder who's going to take over when it runs out Hmm

rosemarysalted · 17/06/2019 08:09

They had an inheritance that has subsidized their lives and now they want benefits.................
Your boys need to work, however menial (IYO).
Benefits are for people in need. Not two able bodied well educated young men who are waiting in mummy's house for their perfect job.
Can you tell I'm appalled?

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