Under the existing system, some 16- and 17-year-olds can claim jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) if they are out of work.
This includes orphans, children estranged from their parents, those who live away from home due to an illness or disability and those part of a probation service or local authority resettlement or rehabilitation programme. There is also the potential for 16- and 17-year-olds to apply for a hardship payment.
But Barnardo’s fears plans to raise the statutory school leaving age to 18 by 2015, combined with moves to introduce a universal credit by around 2013, could lead to the payments being dropped.
The Welfare Reform Bill, which outlines the provisions of the universal credit, is going through parliament and will have its second reading in the House of Lords in September.
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