This section provides some general information about benefits for young people aged 16 and 17. For help with your individual situation it’s a good idea to get advice.

If you are under 16 you have no legal right to benefits. An adult may be able to claim on your behalf or claim benefits that include money for your keep. If you are forced to leave home, contact social and health care.

4 Golden Rules

There are 4 Golden Rules for claiming benefits:

1. If in doubt, claim.
2. Get independent advice.
3. Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.
4. Don’t give up if the going gets tough.

Care Leavers

If you leave care at 16 or 17 you will not get benefits unless you are disabled or a lone parent. Arrange with social and health care and your Leaving Care Personal Advisor to get your weekly allowance. The amount you receive
will not fall below the benefit rate. If you are disabled or a lone parent you may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance
or Income Support.

Social and Health Care may also fund things such as support in training or work, travel to activities, higher education, family contact, cultural and spiritual needs, leisure activities and costs associated with special needs. Funding is based on a full assessment of your needs and written into your Pathway Plan.

To find out more ask your social worker or Leaving Care PA for the leaflet Financial Guidance for Young People.

Grants and Loans You may qualify for a Severe Hardship payment or a Community Care Grant from the Social Fund to pay for essential items you need to live independently, such as a cooker, a bed, clothing and so on. Contact Jobcentre Plus.

Find out more: Looked after, Finding funding

General Benefits

If you are an unemployed 16 or 17 year old you may be able to get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for a short period in special circumstances such as the following:

• You are forced to live away from your parents
• You will suffer severe hardship if you do not get JSA
• You are a member of a couple who has responsibility for a child

To claim JSA you should first register for work and training at your local Connexions Centre. They will arrange an appointment at the Jobcentre Plus for you and complete a form which you will need to take to your appointment. They can also provide support, if needed, in making your claim.

If you are studying, you may be able to get Income Support (IS) while you are on your course if you are a lone parent, sick or disabled, or registered blind.

If you are studying up to A level or equivalent, you may be eligible for IS if you are unable to work because you are caring for someone.

If you are still at school you may be able to get IS if you are:

• Looking after your own child
• An orphan and nobody is looking after you
• Unlikely to be able to work because of a severe disability
• Separated from your parents for reasons that cannot be avoided and nobody is looking after you in their place

Crucial: your first port of call for claiming any benefit is a Connexions Centre. They will help you determine which benefits to apply for and provide support where needed.

Sick or Disabled

> Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
You can claim SSP if you are employed and earning enough on average to pay NI contributions. You must be sick for at least 4 days. You can get SSP for up to 28 weeks for one bout of illness.

> Incapacity Benefit (IB)
You may get IB if SSP has ended or you cannot get SSP.

> Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)
You can claim IIDB if you are disabled because of an accident at work even if you are back at work.

> Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You may qualify for DLA if you needed help for 3 months because of a severe physical or mental illness or disability, and you are likely to need it for at least another 6 months.

> Disabled Person's Tax Credit
You may qualify if you are 16+, working on average 16 hours per week or more, and restricted because of illness or disability. Tax credits are handled by the Inland Revenue.

> Carer's Allowance (CA)
Claim CA if you are 16 or over and spending at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who is getting or waiting to hear about Attendance Allowance, DLA or Constant Attendance Allowance. Contact the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 or online at direct.gov.uk/carers

Pregnant or Young Parent

> Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
SMP is paid for up to 26 weeks to employees who are giving birth or adopting a child. You must be:

• Employed by your present employer in the 15th week before the week your baby is due
• Employed by that employer without a break for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before your baby is due
• Earning enough on average for NI purposes

> Statutory Paternity Pay
SPP is paid to employees whose spouse or partner gives birth to or adopts a child. You must expect to have responsibility for the child's upbringing and be the biological father or the mother's partner. The same conditions of employment apply as for SMP.

> Maternity Allowance
If you can't get SMP, you may be able to get MA if you are employed or self-employed and earning on average £30 a week or more.

> Incapacity Benefit
If you can't get SMP or MA try claiming IB.

> Sure Start Maternity Grant
This is a grant to help you give your baby a positive start in life. You may qualify if you or your partner receive IS, JSA, or Tax Credits. You can apply from 11 weeks before your due date to 3 months after the birth.

> Child Benefit
Anyone bringing up a child can claim Child Benefit. Claim as soon as your child is born or you may lose benefit. Ring 0845 302 1444 or apply online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit

Tax Credits

You can apply for two tax credits, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. If you are part of a couple you must apply jointly. Child Tax Credit is for people who are responsible for at least one child. Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed who usually work 16 hours or more a week and expect to work for at least 4 weeks. As part of Working Tax Credit you may qualify for help towards the costs of childcare.

> Extra Benefit for Dependents
You may qualify for extra benefit for your children, partner or the person looking after your children (not a childminder). Ask Jobcentre Plus whenever you claim a benefit.

Care to Learn

If you’re under 20 and have one or more children, Care to Learn can help with the cost of your childcare and related travel costs while you learn.

You can get up to £160 per child per week for childcare costs.

The subject or course you take is entirely up to you. You can choose, for example, whether you want a qualification or not, or whether you want to learn at a college or through work. You could choose a course or learning programme that lasts only for a few days, or one which lasts for several years. There are no set hours, so you could study part time or full time.

Wherever you learn, you can be confident that your child is being safely looked after.

If you’d like to speak to someone to see if you qualify, or to help you apply, you can either phone the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989 or contact your local Connexions office.

Key link: www.direct.www gov.uk/caretolearn