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Sickness benefit for 17 year old??

(13 Posts)
Katek Sun 02-Sept-18 20:52:38

The 17 year old daughter of a close friend was recently involved in a road accident and it will be months before she recovers from her injuries. She left school in the summer and was looking for full time work. Does anybody know if she will be entitled to any sickness benefit during her recovery?

HootyMcOwlface Sun 02-Sept-18 21:03:40

You could try looking on the gov.uk website it has lots of information on benefits.

paddyann Sun 02-Sept-18 21:35:53

I dont think benefits are paid to anyone under 21 ,certainly housing benefits were cut to young people so she wont get that

annodomini Sun 02-Sept-18 21:38:46

Try Citizens' Advice. They may be able to find a way through the mazes of benefit regulations.

BlueBelle Sun 02-Sept-18 21:43:50

They aren’t now allowed to leave education until they are 18 it can be school, college or apprenticeship but they can’t just leave, like we used to I only know because I have a 17 year old grandchild who wants to leave and work and my daughter has been finding out about it

Cherrytree59 Sun 02-Sept-18 22:07:47

If a road accident then a claim for loss of earnings as well as injury from insurance company.

annep Mon 03-Sept-18 06:31:04

Talk to CAB and a solicitor about claiming.

Nanny27 Mon 03-Sept-18 06:43:43

I'm guessing that if she isn't employed there won't be any loss of earnings.

OldMeg Mon 03-Sept-18 07:37:00

Bluebelle if your birthday is between the end of July (when schools break up) and the end of August, you could well leave school, officially, at 17.

The ruling applies to the end of the school year which is August 31sr.

CassieJ Mon 03-Sept-18 07:58:07

17 year old's can't claim benefits. They have to be in education or apprenticeships until 18 now. Even once left education they can't claim benefits I think until at least 21.
It may be worth speaking to CAB to see if there is anything they can claim.

Cherrytree59 Mon 03-Sept-18 10:04:36

Unfortunatly a friends son was involved in a very serious RTA. He was due start his first job the following day (Monday) he was advised by his solicitor to claim future loss of earnings.

GrandmaMoira Mon 03-Sept-18 10:11:11

I think her mother should probably still be able to claim child benefit and possibly child tax credit for her whilst she is under 18/under school leaving age.

M0nica Mon 03-Sept-18 10:15:13

She will certainly have an entitlement to compensation against the driver of the vehicle who caused the accident, which their insurance company would handle.

The process is not complicated. Just go and speak to a solicitor, a proper one who handles personal injuries within a High Street company, not a claims company who will take some of the money. If the claim succeeds, and if she has suffered any harm at all, it will. The company paying the compensation pays all the legal bills as well.

DD went through the process after being injured in a road accident. It worked very well.