Page 25 | Do all 18 years old go on UC if they cannot find a job

Crystalovertherainbow · 2026-02-01T20:52:15+00:00

Do the family needs to show their income or the new adult is considered their own financial unit now , even if they live with the parents and their UC is given them

Jiwdf · 02/02/2026 20:26

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 02/02/2026 19:39

I'd rather an 18yo claimed benefits than did a job they aren't qualified for.

I can play about half of the scales on a trumpet without thinking too hard. Should I have set myself up as a "brass music tutor" at 18, or do we rightly recognise that teaching instrumental music is a graduate profession?

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One of DS's friends would teach piano in 6th form. He was working towards his grade 8, so he would teach the lower grades.

Vivi0 · 02/02/2026 20:26

arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 19:52

I just hope for your sake that you’d been DBS checked, every person at the bar had been DBS checked, you had the right insurance and had registered as a limited company, registered with hmrc for self assessment, had taken your gcse early and/or had your sats certificate to prove you could count. I hope your mum and dad came with you to check all was above board. And for goodness sake I hope you were officially employed with pension in place.

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😂😂

I might even have pulled a couple of pints now and then.

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:26

gamerchick · 01/02/2026 22:04

It's UC now.

Fuxache the OP was asking if I can be claimed from 18. Not whether it's morally right or not 🙄

This thread is properly weird. Get a grip.

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It is a thread driven by very real situation. Someone loves it too much at home, not my home and their parents are thinking of sending them to the Job centre and asking can they claim at the same time

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arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:30

I know it’s not the point of the thread but @selffellatingouroborosofhate, and I promise you this is said with absolute kindness, your history is affecting how you view things and I can’t imagine this strict adherence to thinking the absolute worst may happen in all situations, is making you happy. I am guilty of over worrying myself but I have several very level headed friends who I draw on for support for if I’m going over the top with worry. Risk exists, of course, but there has to be a balance.

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:32

Pissedupknobber · 01/02/2026 22:05

Maybe. But I had 3 part time jobs. I (not my mother, me) printed off 100 CVs and personally dropped them into every business in our nearest small town. I did shifts for free and got the job, both times.
DD did the same and got 2 part time jobs. And now DGD? She also has 2 part time jobs. whilst doing her A Levels, to save for a year of travelling before (hopefully) university. Totally different areas of the country and obviously totally different eras, but we’ve all managed.

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That is the idea but asking just in case it does not happen fast

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TomvJerry · 02/02/2026 20:35

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:13

yes, exactly...this was one of the ideas which prompted me to ask the question.
What are we doing if the young adult loves it way too much at home and all given on a plate. Having to go to Job centre while claiming for a while at least gives them a view into real life

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Are you serious this has got to be a wind up. Can't you help him put together a CV and apply for jobs. It's not that hard.

Your second comment about shaming. There is no shame in getting benefits but if he hasn't even tried then YOU need to teach him how. I showed my kids why can't you?

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:35

Needmorelego · 01/02/2026 22:09

It's obviously different in Scotland.
Most 18 year olds in England and Wales (and NI?) are done with college at 18.
Unless they are moving on to University there isn't much more college they can do It's done. It's finished.
(the OP didn't actually say where they live)

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England

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Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:36

TomvJerry · 02/02/2026 20:35

Are you serious this has got to be a wind up. Can't you help him put together a CV and apply for jobs. It's not that hard.

Your second comment about shaming. There is no shame in getting benefits but if he hasn't even tried then YOU need to teach him how. I showed my kids why can't you?

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It is not me. I am foreign, it is an English friend who is asking

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TomvJerry · 02/02/2026 20:38

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:36

It is not me. I am foreign, it is an English friend who is asking

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Sorry

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:39

Pollyanna87 · 01/02/2026 22:10

And I think it could be a good experience to be on UC while job searching. Many people have no understanding of how the benefits system works.

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I don't have, this is why am asking

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Theworldisupsidedown · 02/02/2026 20:40

HostaCentral · 02/02/2026 16:10

I don't think anyone on this thread has an issue with it, IF NEEDED. But there seem to be an awful lot of posters on here, high income, nice lives, who are encouraging their 18 year olds to claim. Either they are lying or rage baiting, or are just shit parents. Who knows.

I can and would support my children in my home (or in theirs) if needed until the day I die. Just because they magically become adults at 18, doesn't mean my responsibility to them has ceased. During Covid DD1 came back home. I did not charge her rent or living expenses, she just became part of family unit again. If grown up children need help financially or physically, you help them, you don't encourage them to go to the state for help...... IF YOU CAN. I put that in capitals, because this only relates to families you can support their children, not those who are not in a position to do so.

Are you going to pay their missing NI contributions? If they have no job?
Our adult children live at home for free ( hopefully they are saving for a deposit) .
And my elderly parents always tell me, if the worst happens I can go home!
On a personal level I hate zero hours contracts that expect you to be available 24/7 and change shifts weekly so can’t even get a second job to fit around it!

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:41

I know the topic is like walking on someone's toes...but the thread is a genuine question how that exact case could be working for someone whose young adult is too comfortable sitting at home ....they need to get them out the door and somewhere. Job centre seems good start

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arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:41

So, @Crystalovertherainboware you saying your friend thinks the best way of teaching her own child about responsibility, work ethic and jobs is to have him sign on? Rather than tell him herself/put some boundaries in place. She thinks giving him £350 of free money on top of his lovely life at home will help him move on? Um.

Eastie77Returns · 02/02/2026 20:41

My closest friend's DS is 18 and claiming UC. He is currently deciding if he should take up a university place he is due to start in September. In the meantime he is spending most of his time at home gaming. I'm really not convinced that actively job-hunting is a requirement to claim UC from what his mum has told me, he is not looking at all. She asked me to have a chat with him as he is interested in working in the field I work in which I was happy to do and I invited him to my office for the day. During that day he told me that he planned to 'eventually' start job hunting but would only work somewhere that allowed him to be his 'authentic, whole self' and also would not work anywhere with hours outside of 9am -5pm. The entitlement is breathtaking.

On the one hand I know it is hard for a lot of 18 year olds now. On the other hand, at his age (admittedly some 25 years ago) I had already been working weekends for 2 years and it wasn't as easy as some suggest back then. I remember writing to over 30 stores in and around central London and walking into at least a dozen asking for a job before I finally got one. If the option to claim benefits had been available I wouldn't have taken it because I know my parents would have been hugely disappointed and I'll admit I'd be sad if my own DC chose that route as well. I refuse to believe this healthy, bright 18 year old young man cannot get a job and I firmly believe if UC was not available to him he would have one by now. I honestly think for a lot of young people it is a disincentive to work.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:43

The job centre would be a good place to start, but why would he need to sign on?

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:45

Loub1987 · 01/02/2026 22:13

I don’t agree with benefits bashing threads but let’s be real, if you want a job and arent hampered by disability or the requirement to work around childcare you will always find one if you try hard enough.

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I absolutely see the point, since I personally take any job that comes my way. But my friend is asking her own questions

I did not want it to make it trendy topic

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JenniferBooth · 02/02/2026 20:46

Theworldisupsidedown · 02/02/2026 20:40

Are you going to pay their missing NI contributions? If they have no job?
Our adult children live at home for free ( hopefully they are saving for a deposit) .
And my elderly parents always tell me, if the worst happens I can go home!
On a personal level I hate zero hours contracts that expect you to be available 24/7 and change shifts weekly so can’t even get a second job to fit around it!

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Its also impossible to book GP appointments around it so now im wondering whether this is partly responsible for ppl going to A and E

TakeTheCuntingQuichePatricia · 02/02/2026 20:47

arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:43

The job centre would be a good place to start, but why would he need to sign on?

It can be almost impossible to get any help at the JC unless you've put in a claim.

TomvJerry · 02/02/2026 20:47

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:41

I know the topic is like walking on someone's toes...but the thread is a genuine question how that exact case could be working for someone whose young adult is too comfortable sitting at home ....they need to get them out the door and somewhere. Job centre seems good start

They could like the idea of getting free money. The best way is she should make noise in his ears and tell him to leave the house and find a job. She needs to take away his comfort.

Could he do an apprenticeship and if he has no qualifications then he can do functional skills for English and Maths?

He does need a CV to find jobs on Indeed and apply. The jobs my 17 and 19 year old was from Indeed. The job centre will expect him to look for jobs online.

XenoBitch · 02/02/2026 20:50

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:41

I know the topic is like walking on someone's toes...but the thread is a genuine question how that exact case could be working for someone whose young adult is too comfortable sitting at home ....they need to get them out the door and somewhere. Job centre seems good start

Then they ought to cut off everything apart from basic meals.
If the teen needs clothing or toiletries, or nicer food, then they use their own money be that from a job or benefits.
Being on benefits wont be a walk in the park, and they will be expected to look for work or get their money stopped.

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:51

ComedyGuns · 01/02/2026 22:17

Same here.

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this is probably where my friends offspring is going to go ....unless they suddenly find one which pays a bit more than that and goes well, after reading many replies some of which are very helpful

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arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:52

TakeTheCuntingQuichePatricia · 02/02/2026 20:47

It can be almost impossible to get any help at the JC unless you've put in a claim.

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wow, that’s loopy!

XenoBitch · 02/02/2026 20:54

arethereanyleftatall · 02/02/2026 20:43

The job centre would be a good place to start, but why would he need to sign on?

I remember the big boards full of jobs that anyone could walk in and look at. No need to be claiming anything.

Times are totally different now. Job centres now have security on the door who wont let you in unless you have an appointment.

Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:55

Vivi0 · 01/02/2026 22:19

Completely agree.

18 year olds living at home and claiming benefits is one of the most depressing things I’ve ever read.

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Hardly. There is similar thread in adult children every single week

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Original poster

Crystalovertherainbow · 02/02/2026 20:59

arethereanyleftatall · 01/02/2026 22:20

To those who would expect their 18yo to go on benefits if they don’t have a job, did you at the same age?

my friend could have done this, I don't know
I am foreign from ex communist country. We did not have benefits but great supported accomodation for free,free transport, free healthcare, free uni.

The thread is not about me but I understand people who are poor in the UK and try their best to survive

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