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

[Crystalovertherainbow]

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

Those who want to better themselves go on and do further education or training when they're 18

In Scotland all 18 year olds get free bus travel.

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.

It's called Universal Credit ("UC") but an 18 year living at home will only be able to claim the Job Seeking part of UC.
They won't get housing costs etc.
(as far as I know...)

No but to get funding, you have to start before you turn 19. So if you go to college, do a year level 2 course as your gcse grades are not great, then a level three extended diploma course if 2 years, you won’t get funding.

It depends where you live. My year 12 son and many of his peers are struggling to find p/t work.

Who pays for that though.....the government?
Free buses, benefits....all coming from the same pot really.

Once the child element of UC ends for a parent not every parent can then support an 18 year old if they are on a low wage themselves. The 18 yo will only get the basic amount, nothing for housing which the parent will still have to pay out for from their single wage and lose some from their own UC claim - if they are still able to get any help - as there is another adult in the household.

In an ideal world, parents could continue to carry on paying for their child until they were working but for some families - especially single parents on low wages - this isn't an option as it is for well earning, two parent families.

No you don't.

I take it you're talking about your part of the UK and assuming it's the same across the piece?

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)

Yep - and it means that 18 year olds can travel to college and training opportunities to better themselves, rather than claiming they can't and therefore need UC

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.

That wasn't what I asked.

Most young people finish education at 18.

How can they have finished an HND at 18?

So I have a 17 yo finishing Alevels and due to do gap year and a 20yr old finishing his degree this summer. Both or neither of them may end up claiming benefits after graduation because it’s a safety net that there to be used. Of course they will be encouraged to work , they want to. But as high earners we’ve paid tax in abundance for this .

Mine claimed UC as his Child Benefit & my Child Tax Credits stopped so he had to pay board as I'm on a low income.

@SirChenjins out of curiosity is there an age when the Scottish government stops funding education?
I believe university is free too.
But surely you can't just keep doing more courses/qualifications.
Surely there must be a limit?

You do realise that you have to apply for endless jobs while receiving jobseekers’ UC?

@SirChenjins call me thick....but what is a HND?

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.

Oh no, that's the old way. Benefits are a life choice now.

This. I was working from 11. Paper round then at 15 my Local coop and there while at school and then 2yrs college and stayed there till I started a full time job in aug after I left college June

You're obsessed with HNDs 😂

Most people in the UK aren't doing HNDs.
The higher education entry rate among UK 18-year-olds was 36.3% in 2025.
Only 50% of all adults 19 and over in the UK have a level 4 qualification (that's HNC level).

Higher National Diploma. In ascending order and generally speaking - SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification, various levels), HNC (certificate), HND, undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree or diploma, PhD

It's just a level 5 qualification, something under an undergraduate degree - Higher National Diploma, Level 5 diploma, Foundation degrees are all the same level.