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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:
Cloudtree · 17/06/2019 08:14

I'm a senior lawyer and run a law firm. I would not be impressed at all by an applicant who had gone onto benefits rather than take on work. I'd far rather see that an applicant has worked really hard in any job (stacking shelves, picking litter etc) than sat back looking for a legal job whilst living at home and claiming benefits.

Is he not going to law school?

Runmoreorless · 17/06/2019 08:20

They can claim job seekers but won't get housing benefit while they live at home.

To be entitled to job seekers they'd have to be prepared to take any work, not just something "appropriate" for someone with a good law degree.

In your shoes, as you've obviously been able to support them up to now, I'd give them a few months to treat finding a proper job as their full time jobs. I'd worry that if they took a menial job (sorry there must be a better word!) they'd end up doing it forever because it's really hard to put together quality job applications if you're working full time. Although I would expect them to find some part time bar work or similar

Babyroobs · 17/06/2019 08:24

They would be able to claim Universal credit which would be about £250 per month for under 25's rate. They would have to do intensive work searching of 35 hours a week.

hereiam19 · 17/06/2019 08:25

I was on benefits for about 4 months after uni - didn’t do me any harm. I am a health professional in the NHS. Where I live they only recruit once a year. I knew this therefore applied for work related to my profession - however had to wait on police checks etc. I also completed training days here and there and had to declare all to the job centre so my money could be reduced accordingly. I think if there’s an end to it then what’s the problem - I thought my job was starting in August as I passed interview in July when in reality it didn’t start until December! I then applied for my own professional job in April, interviewed May and didn’t start until October!! I was lucky I had got the first job to tie me over until my career started

NeverSayFreelance · 17/06/2019 08:55

It's really not that simple to just "get a job". I graduate this month and have been applying for everything for the past two months. Retail, admin, restaurants... you name it. And I have experience in all three. So far I haven't got a single interview. Luckily I do have one interview coming up for a graduate position so we'll see how that goes.

But once you have a degree, menial jobs don't want you because they know you are looking for a better job.

Rununculusaretop · 17/06/2019 09:03

DS has also just graduated with a law degree. It's so hard for them to get a training contract, he tells me that applying is almost like a full time job.
He's working in a pub in the meantime. If your rural pub/ catering might be a good option?

MaybeDoctor · 17/06/2019 09:03

Is your eldest son able to apply for any internships or vacation schemes?

That would probably be a better bet than temporary jobs, especially if he is due to take the next stage of his legal training in the autumn.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 17/06/2019 12:20

Wow you'd think this was aibu Grin

I didn't throw money at them. An aunt and grandparents died so they had a lot in the bank. Ds2 still has a fair whack but he needs to get work. Ds1 has studied very hard and will get an amazing degree so I'd rather that than he had to study and work. Although he did apply for lots of pt work, got interviews and got told he interviewed well but no experience! I don't know why they bothered giving him an interview?

He's applied for graduate jobs. He's thinking more along the police at the moment or teaching? His dad was a lawyer but I didn't keep in touch with law contacts.

I'm sure something will come up soon? I can get overtime easily enough so mine and dh's wages will tide us over.

Thanks for the help those who have.

OP posts:
Weezol · 17/06/2019 12:30

If they are being held back by lack of experience they need to do some voluntary work. I know they need to earn, but as well as volunteering being a useful step into paid work it's also valuable life experience.

NoBaggyPants · 17/06/2019 12:38

They are entitled to claim benefits whilst they seek work. That entitlement will be means tested, so any inheritance may affect what they are entitled to.

It is Universal Credit that they need to claim. They won't be entitled to the housing element as they do not have a legal liability to pay rent.

I wish them both well in their future careers.

PeggyIsInTheNarrative · 17/06/2019 12:43

Citizens Advice has a good volunteer scheme including providing witness support to people going to court and Law Centres offer volunteering and Internships.

Sooverthemill · 17/06/2019 12:46

Wow! What a lot of judgement. At no point does OP say her kids are wanting to claim benefits. OP asks if it is possible for them to claim. @curiousmama you can check on lots of websites to see if theybare eligible. Universal credit has preached ESA in a lot of places so they may be able too get something based on income until they get work. You could encourage them to get temporary work or voluntary work too which might help. We are rural too but pub jobs are usually around especially in the summmer. The elder one could try for a job with a holiday company ( though it's quite late). My nephew now has a permanent job with a well known holiday company after a few summers with them. I'm sure they will both find something. Citizens Advice website is good.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/06/2019 13:11

Applying for a TC takes some organisation but isn't too bad. Is that the route he wants though? It sounds maybe not. It is very competitive.

I think he's missed the boat for teaching this year, and I would guess the police but someone will know.

What does DS1 want to do?

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 15:43

Wow! What a lot of judgement. At no point does OP say her kids are wanting to claim benefits. OP asks if it is possible for them to claim.

Because she doesn't want to have to find them....

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 isn't posting to see if they are entitled to benefits for a laugh. Of course there is intent.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 15:43

*fund

MaybeitsMaybelline · 18/06/2019 06:48

They do realise that if they are able to claim they will be expected to job hunt as a full time job and evidence that otherwise they will be sanctioned. No getting up at ten and having a quick browse online then going out to meet their mates and signing on once a fortnight.

It doesn’t work like that anymore.

user1487194234 · 18/06/2019 13:37

I think they should apply for benefits while they are looking for work
If they are entitled to any money they will get it,which is fair enough in my book

Sooverthemill · 18/06/2019 14:53

@justbeniceplease I don't see why, if the legislation allows a claim for benefits, the OP should have to fund her adult children. If the adults can claim, that's what it's there for. She hasn't suggested that they will then sit on their bottoms watching Netflix while the rest of us pay for them. They've applied for jobs but have t yet been successful. At the era Keats any benefits they receive will pay for interviews and transport ( as well as getting to the signing on office)

Oneminuteandthenallgone · 18/06/2019 15:24

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.

What a naive view.

Totally depends on where you live.

RavenLG · 18/06/2019 15:56

I work in a university (support not academic) but in the careers / extra ciric side of things. Your 21y/o needs to start doing some form of unpaid work to get some experience. If he is looking at grad roles they won't take him seriously with zero work background. It's not necessarily skills pertaining to his degree they are looking for, but soft skills like team working etc, that he can't really demonstrate with no working background.

As others have pointed out he may be eligible for JSA / UC but before he graduates he should make an appointment with his careers team, as they may have some guidance for him like assistance with interview techniques or how he can boost his employability skills.

I'd also encourage the 18yo to start doing the same as if the navy doesn't work out they mind find themselves in a similar position.

KittiesInsane · 19/06/2019 09:05

What one of mine did (fairly rural, bus to city once an hour) was a month of voluntary work in a charity shop, from which he got a decent retail job, and then a second part-time role.

A friend's daughter volunteered with CAB alongside a law degree.

Your DS2 also needs to keep up fitness if aiming for the navy - maybe he could be a cycle courier/lifeguard/postie so that he's on his feet most of the day.

Therealjudgejudy · 19/06/2019 17:19

Benefits are not for 21 year olds who have a heafty inheritance sitting in their bank accounts. Are you that ignorant to the state of the country and the demand of food banks at the moment? Hmm

Weezol · 19/06/2019 18:41

That's a good point:

If you (and your partner if you live together) have over £6,000 in savings, your JSA will be reduced. If you have £16,000 or more in savings you won’t get anything.

Livelovebehappy · 22/06/2019 22:21

Op, they are entitled to claim universal credit. They have to prove they’re looking for work though by showing what efforts they’ve made. They can apply online.

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