moving out at 18 (UK)

Don't do it.

^Pretty much.^

only advantage you have right now is you get free council tax as a student then you're gonna have lots of bills bills bills

I am 24, working full time, have a partner who is also working full time and we are STILL struggling to make ends meet.

If I could, I would stay at home as long as possible until I was in a position to comfortably afford it.

Move out when you can't afford it and it will be a constant Catch 22.

Not sure why you HAVE to go but if there really is no choice go and see C.A.B who will go thru all your options and will know what benefits you can claim. Your best bet would be moving in with a relative, after that a house share...I wouldn't even consider going it alone, the type of property you could afford will likely be very poor and could well end up pulling you down.

My suggestion is don't add a huge source of stress to your life.Don't move out yet.Finish your studies,get a job and then think about it.

When you are a full time student you can't claim benefits, you won't get a house and you won't get help. The only option is a job but that isn't an option.

If you are really having to move - and pretty much the only reason I would at 18 is to go to Uni or if I was being abused in some way - then you're going to need to get a job in the evenings. See the catch 22 here. I held down a part time evening job in a call centre at 18 while at uni so that I could support myself, it's doable but it's damn hard.

If you can sort it out then do it. Leaving home now will start your life off at a very difficult point.

Not sure why you HAVE to go but if there really is no choice go and see C.A.B who will go thru all your options and will know what benefits you can claim. Your best bet would be moving in with a relative, after that a house share...I wouldn't even consider going it alone, the type of property you could afford will likely be very poor and could well end up pulling you down.

dont have any relatives that i could live with. whats a C.A.B?

Citizens Advice Bureau. I used to volunteer for them. They give advice. I would consider seeing your local councils housing department and you'll be listed for a home and banded as to your need. It's very tough competition though and it will have to be an extremely serious reason to be housed anytime soon.

I moved out at 17 and am now 24 with 90% of a uni degree finished, a loving partner who also moved out at 17, a full time, well paying job and I own an inner city apartment. Moving out when you are young is not always a bad thing. I can't stand it when I meet people around 20yo and they still live with their parents. Especially the ones that aren't even working and are just at uni. I say it's better to be chucked in the deep end. I don't know how your government does things but in aus we have a thing called living away from home allowance for kids who have to move out and austudy for people under 25 at uni. Maybe there is something like that you can apply for. Are you going to study or work? If you are moving out to work you should be fine. Like leila said; try a share house. That way all your costs are cut down and you might make some awesome friends. Just go into your local support office or hop online and see what government support will apply to you. Good luck!

Seeing as you have said there is no choice, then as said above try and find a shared house option. You should go to the local council office and register there, it won't do much good in terms of housing but you will get some advice and be given some rented house info that will take a bond payment from your local council instead of a deposit.
You need to try and find a job for 16 hours or more and then you can claim tax credits which will give you a little extra each week. Do you get EMA? It's not much but you will still be entitled to this, after this course if you were still under level 2 in qualifications you can also get ALG once you are 19 which is the adult version of EMA. Once you have found somewhere, you can claim housing benefit, you won't get it paid in full but you will get some, so it is worth it. As has been said you will also get council tax benefit as students do not have to pay this. Direct.Gov is a good site that can give invaluable advice on benefit entitlements.
After you have finished this round of study are you planning to go to Uni? If not then I would consider it, you will get maximum loans and grants and will come out the other end able to get a good job and be self-sufficient, (yes you will ahve loans to pay back but not until your income exceeds £21000 per year). If not, then getting full-time work after you finish school will be a must. I left home at 14, ran away then returned to leave again at 16, I was very lucky. It is definitely harder for young people now, so plan it carefully and you will be fine. Also find your local shelter office, they will help and advice on all aspects of this. Remember at 18 you are considered an adult so there will be no extras because you are young. I have worked in this industry for years, if I can help further let me know! Good Luck with everything

if you are already 18 and still at school you will struggle to get any help, sorry, its a rubbish system. you could try applying for income support and council tax/housing benefit. but most people are expected to stay at home and be cared for by your family.

Step into my office and take a seat on that leather couch!

im 19 and live with my boyfriend.
709$- rent
90$- electricity
40$- gas
90$- phone bill
200+$ food
35$-internet
1164
cant afford cable
cant afford a 2nd car
cant afford a working car for that matter
i work 56 hrs a week (counting college) half the time i colaspe by 9pm... its not really enjoyable. i cant even afford clothes let alone food some times... i dont get any assistance because there are people in the world who need it more then me.
oh and college 10 thousand dollars. not counting books. (700 per semester... so 2800$)

^^^ this. Its really the best option for you.

I moved out at 17 - with a toddler in tow. I had a roommate, worked my *kitten* off, and lived on ramen so I could feed my baby more healthy foods. If I can do it, anybody can. You find a way to make it work.

I moved out at 17 and lived alone. I worked full time and went to college full time at night. I didn't get any help from my parents and did not take out any loans.

I was able to do this because I had marketable work experience and therefore was able to get a decent paying job - because I had awesome skills and worked hard.

:flowerforyou:

I hear you could design some websites and apps.

yeah, it's not that hard. Just sayin'.

:flowerforyou: