Teenage parents and benefits

• If you are 16 or 17 and not in full time education, Child Benefit may continue to be paid on your behalf during a 'Child Benefit extension period' if you are registered as available for work or work based training.
• If you do not live with your parents or anyone acting as your parents, you may be entitled to JSA in your own right during this 'Child Benefit extension period' if you are registered as available for work or work based training.The Child Benefit Extension Period (CBEP) will run for a set period from the time when your entitlement to child benefit ends. The set period of time the CBEP runs for will vary according to when your Child Benefit entitlement ends. You should seek further advice and if in doubt claim immediately.

Severe Hardship Rule
To claim JSA under the severe hardship rule you will need to register for work and training with the Connexions Service. You need to make sure that in the 'other information' section in your JSA claim form you state that you are applying on the basis of severe hardship.

You will have to go for an interview at the Benefits Agency about why you are suffering hardship. This will include reasons why your parents will not or cannot support you financially. You should also explain that you are pregnant and that you have extra costs because of your pregnancy. You should take along as much information and evidence as you can. It sounds daunting, and can be difficult, but you will probably be entitled to some money.

It will help if you can bring an adult to the interview with you to support your claim, such as a friend, social worker or youth worker. Or you could visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau (address in the phone book) and ask if they could help.

In order to receive JSA you have to register for work or training at the Connexions Service. The careers service will then refer you to the JobCentre where you make your JSA claim.

There are two different levels of payment of JSA if you are aged 16 or 17:
Lower rate £33.50
Higher rate £44.05
You will be entitled to the higher rate if you are living apart from your parents and you can show 'good cause' for not being able to live with them. See box on page 1 for more information.JSA is means-tested so whether you get it depends on the amount of money you have coming in and the amount of savings you have.

Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit (HB/CTB)
HB and CTB are paid by your local authority to help with the cost of your rent and council tax. You are not liable to pay council tax until you are 18.

If you receive either IS or income-based JSA, you will be entitled to receive maximum HB/CTB. If you do not receive either IS or JSA but you have a low income you may be able to receive HB/CTB anyway. HB/CTB is means-tested so whether you get it depends on the amount of money you have coming in and the amount of savings you have.

You should claim HB/CTB directly from your local authority.

Working Tax Credit (WTC)
You may qualify for WTC, if you are 16 or over, if you or your partner (if you have one) are working 16 hours or more a week, have a low income and have at least one dependant child.

WTC is means-tested. The amount you get will depend on how much you earn, how many hours you work, how many children you have, and whether or not you are paying for registered childcare. You will be able to get extra WTC from the childcare tax credit, to help with the costs of childcare if you pay for registered childcare and you are a single parent working at least 16 hours a week, or you are in a couple and you both work at least 16 hours a week, or one of you works at least 16 hours a week and the other is disabled.

You should claim WTC from the Inland Revenue helpline 0845 300 3900.