Money

Money can be a nightmare. Do you spend more than you have? It's not uncommon, in these days of easy credit, but it can get you into serious debt, and that can lead to legal, financial and emotional problems.

However dire your situation might seem, there is generally always a way out, We can give you advice or act as your advocate to help you sort out your financial situation before it really gets to you.

We can also advise you on your rights and claims for benefits and grants, whether you are a student, unemployed or a struggling young parent.

Benefits

National insurance contributions
A young person can get a national insurance number at the age of 16 and pay contributions. She/he will then be able to get contributory benefits such as contribution-based jobseeker's allowance if she/he has paid sufficient contributions and meets the other entitlement conditions.

A young person who stays on at school after 16 will be given starting credits to help her/him get contributory benefits in the longer term.

Contributory benefits.
There are no special rules for a young person claiming a contributory benefit, provided she/he meets the qualifying conditions.

Non-contributory benefits
Income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance

A young person who is aged 16 or over and who is no longer a dependent can claim income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance.

However, 16 and 17 year olds who meet the entitlement conditions can only claim these benefits in certain circumstances.

Housing benefit and council tax benefit
There is no age restriction on claiming housing benefit, but housing benefit for a single person aged under 25 with no children is restricted to a local single room rent.

Council tax benefit can only be claimed by people aged 18 or over.

Disability benefits
A young person with a disability may be entitled to claim certain benefits. Usually, the young person's parent would claim the benefit on her/his behalf.

Social fund
A young person who is receiving income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance may also be able to get a community care grant or budgeting loan.

Banking

There is no legal age limit on opening a bank account, but the bank manager has discretion on whether to allow a child or young person to open an account.

There are restrictions on opening certain kinds of account, for example, as a young person is not normally legally responsible for her/his debts, s/he is unlikely to be granted an overdraft.

It is a criminal offence to send a child or young person advertising material inviting her/him to borrow money or obtain goods or services on credit or hire purchase.

However, a young person under 18 can enter into a credit or hire purchase agreement if an adult acts as her/his guarantor.

A child or young person of any age can borrow money, but access to loans may be limited because a contract between a lender and a young person will not usually be enforceable

A child or young person who applies for a credit card will have her/his application turned down.

Shopping

Consumer problems
If you are under 18, you can enforce your rights as a consumer over, for example, faulty goods or services.

You should follow the same procedure as a person aged over 18, although if civil proceedings are necessary you may have to use a ligitation friend.

Restrictions on buying certain goods
There are restrictions on children or young people buying certain goods. Includes:

  • Alcohol
  • Cigarettes
  • Firearms and other weapons

Butane lighter fuels
It is illegal to sell a lighter fuel refill canister containing butane or with butane as a constituent part to children and young people if the seller knows that the contents are going to be abused.

Pets
Although there is no lower age limit for owning a pet, a child under 12 cannot buy one without a parent being present.

Solvents
It is illegal to sell solvents to children and young people if the seller knows that they are going to be abused

Telephones

A child or young person cannot open a telephone account because s/he cannot normally enter into a contract - S/he can buy a mobile phone which works on a pre-paid voucher system as this does not require a contract.