Benefits for 19 year old on a gap year?

[Scarlett]

My friend is nearly 19 and taking a year out before going to Uni. She doesn't have a job and sees the 'gap year' as the thing she is doing. She gets asthma and is worried about having to pay £7 prescription fees once she turns 19 in the summer. I said that I thought she would be eligible for some benefits; surely if she is not working and has no income..? She isn't travelling or doing work experience - she is just hanging around I think. any ideas?

[sophie_1003]

If she signs onto Jobseekers she will get prescriptions for free but that would actually imply that she would be looking for a job; also if that was my friend I'd be questioning what she is hoping to gain from her gap year and get pretty annoyed that I was funding her being a layabout for a year!

[ummmm]

Are you serious?

There are no benefits for 'hanging around'

She'll have to get a job...

And if she's not going travelling why the hell can't she get a job or go straight to uni???

[Mamyalynne]

I may be well off the mark here Scarlett, but to just decide to do 'nothing' for a year does not entitle one to benefits.

One way to reduce prescription costs is to look into a season ticket.

[sophie_1003]

Just another thought; can't whoever is looking after her, feeding her; putting a roof over her head etc (presuming she will be living with her parents) pay for her prescriptions?

[Buenchico]

Asthma doesn't render someone incapable of working. (Many professional sports players suffer from asthma). So that rules out any sort of invalidity benefit. Which basically only leaves Job Seeker's Allowance (and the benefits which can run alongside it).
http://www.direct.gov...ngforwork/DG_10018757

In order to qualify for JSA a person needs to be able to show that they're actively seeking work, and they must accept any reasonable work offer they receive. If your friend is receiving JSA (or is otherwise on a very low income) she might be eligible for Local Housing Allowance (but only on the basis of living in shared accommodation):
http://www.direct.gov...ow_income/DG_10018928
and Council Tax Benefit:
http://www.direct.gov...ow_income/DG_10018923

As your friend probably won't have the record of National Insurance contributions necessary to get Contribution-Based JSA, she'd receive Income-Based JSA. That would probably be better anyway, as she'd then be entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

Anyone (irrespective of their income levels or benefits received) who needs frequent NHS prescriptions can make a single payment of £28.25 to cover an unlimited number of prescriptions over a 3 month period (or £104.00 for a full year's cover):
02:34 Wed 05th Jan 2011

[Buenchico]

Oops! The link got cut off:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHS...rescriptioncosts.aspx

Chris

[bednobs]

with the yearly one, you are allowed to pay by monthly direct debit - around £10 pm

[bednobs]

plus lol at a gap year where you don't do anything. I wonder how she is going to eat? I also wonder what "watching jeremy kyle" for a year is going to look like on her CV?

[lumination]

im 19 and on my gapyear. i made the choice to travel and its awesome. tell her to get off her backside and get a job so she can afford to pay for herself and do something interesting with her life. if she doesnt get a job or anything i cant see the government giving her any help with affording her medicine.

[Sqad]

I have never...ever...been a fan of the "gap year"

You dont need a gap year and it serves no function in my opinion.

[Scarlett]

Hahaha okay- here's more about her. Her parents recently divorced and she lives at home with just her Dad. He works from home as a recording engineer/producer and I think that her job is helping him. However, I would say that she is one of the teenagers simply not ready to go to Uni yet- probably due to her parents' split and her unconscious need to look after her Dad. So, maybe he pays her for helping him, or maybe she just wants to be at home this year?! I know it looks like she is being really unimaginative but I think the divorce hit her quite hard. thanks for all the info on benefits!

[sophie_1003]

A years gap of not doing anything isn't going to look great if she decides she does want to go to uni or even on job applications as you often have to state the reason for any gaps in employment, another college course (even if it's just something of personal interest rather than to gain a qualification) or a part time job (full time would be better) would serve the purposes of keeping her busy so she doesn't dwell on her negative feelings and give her something to talk about on her personal statement or to future employees

[Mamyalynne]

If she wants a year rebuilding her bonds with Dad and being at home, then all she can do is ask that he supports her and puts 'Home Duties' on her CV.

[Sqad]

I don´t understand this one little bit.

She has a place at Uni (dont know what she is to study) but she has a chance of a lifetime.

Gap year?....forget it....go straight to Uni.

Parent´s divorce....everyday occurrence,that is their future and their problem, your future lies in your education, now get organised.

[sophie_1003]

I don't get the impression that she's been given a place at uni Sqad, just that she is expecting to apply for 2012/2013.

[jd_1984]

I wish I had taken a gap year.
I went College - Uni - Employment, no break to kind of find out who I am and what I want etc... (yeah I know corny!)
Now, approaching 30, I feel I need to do something memorable before I have too many commitments and it becomes impossible so me and a friend are planning a 6 week drive across America for later this year. Then similar across Europe next year!
If you have the time, money and desire, get off the couch!!