North West Leicestershire Citizens Advice

Bureau’s Advice and Information Site for Young People in Leicestershire

About Citizens Advice

What We Can Do For You Contact UsVolunteering

Housing

Employment

Benefits

Money

Consumer

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Independent– we will always act in the interests of our clients, without influence from any outside bodies

Impartial– we don’t judge our clients or make assumptions about them. Our service is open to everyone, and we treat everyone equally Confidential– we won’t pass on anything a client tells

us – or even the fact that they’ve visited us – without their permission Free– no-one has to pay for any part of the service we

provide



It is the largest advice-giving network It is the largest advice-giving network in the UK, regularly providing advice from nearly 3,400 in the UK, regularly providing advice from nearly 3,400

locations.locations.

We help people deal with nearly 5.3 million new problems We help people deal with nearly 5.3 million new problems

every year, in bureaux, by phone and email, at outreach every year, in bureaux, by phone and email, at outreach sessions in places like GP surgeries and courtssessions in places like GP surgeries and courts

CAB advice is free, impartial, independent, confidential CAB advice is free, impartial, independent, confidential and and

provided by trained volunteers.provided by trained volunteers.

The CAB service is known by 96 per of the public and 41 The CAB service is known by 96 per of the public and 41 per cent of has used us at some point in their lives.per cent of has used us at some point in their lives.

The advice we give is the first in the advice sector to be The advice we give is the first in the advice sector to be audited for the quality of the advice given to clients.audited for the quality of the advice given to clients.

CAB advice is available to everyone regardless of race, CAB advice is available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or nationality.gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or nationality.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to continue reliant on trained volunteers and funds to continue providing this vital service to local communitiesproviding this vital service to local communities..

There are a number of different ways that we can helpyou to resolve a problem. We don’t tell you what to do, but explain your options and the possible outcomes of

different courses of action. You are encouraged to make your own decisions and act on your own behalf.

We enable you to manage your own problems by focusing on your needs as an individual.

We can:We can: interview you face-to-face and by phone to find out what interview you face-to-face and by phone to find out what

the problem is.the problem is.

access our regularly updated electronic informationaccess our regularly updated electronic information database for up to the minute information. database for up to the minute information.

help you to negotiate with companies or service help you to negotiate with companies or service providers such as creditors or to appeal against decisions, providers such as creditors or to appeal against decisions,

for example, social security benefit claims.for example, social security benefit claims.

write letters or phone companies and service providers write letters or phone companies and service providers on your behalf.on your behalf.

help you prioritise your problems, for example, to sort help you prioritise your problems, for example, to sort out which debts are most importantout which debts are most important

help you with form filling, for example, to claim for help you with form filling, for example, to claim for social security benefitssocial security benefits

refer you to CAB specialist caseworkers for complex refer you to CAB specialist caseworkers for complex problems or to other agencies when appropriate.problems or to other agencies when appropriate.

Paula Tobin - Young Person’s Paula Tobin - Young Person’s AdviserAdviser

North West Leicestershire Citizens North West Leicestershire Citizens Advice BureauAdvice Bureau

87 Belvoir Road,87 Belvoir Road,Coalville,Coalville,

Leicestershire,Leicestershire,LE67 3PHLE67 3PH

Phone: 01530 454751Phone: 01530 454751E-mail: ypanwlcab@tiscali.co.ukE-mail: ypanwlcab@tiscali.co.uk

Will I have to pay a deposit if I want to rent a flat?

At what age can I leave home?

The shower in my flat doesn’t work properly. I’ve told the landlord but he hasn’t done anything

about it—should I pay to get it fixed and take it out of next month’s rent?

I’ve been sleeping on a friend’s sofa for a couple of weeks—does this mean I’m homeless? Will the

council help me?

What is housing benefit?

You will nearly always be asked for a deposit and this will usually be the same as one month's rent. If you damage

any property or do not pay the rent the landlord may keep some or all of this amount.

The legal age for leaving home without parent's permission is 18. But in most cases no legal action will be taken if you

are 16 or 17 and are in no immediate danger.

No, pay your full rent as usual. Inform your landlord in writing that it is his responsibility to arrange a plumber and

to pay for getting it fixed. Whether your landlord is responsible for repairing other items, like the cooker or

fridge, will depend on the tenancy.

You are homeless, but not necessarily in what the council calls 'priority need'. This will depend on your particular circumstances

Housing benefit is the name given to the government scheme, which helps people to pay their rent. It cannot be

paid to owner-occupiers to help pay their mortgage - help for this may be possible from income support or income-based

jobseeker's allowance.

Will I have to pay a deposit if I want to rent a flat?

At what age can I leave home?

The shower in my flat doesn’t work properly. I’ve told the landlord but he hasn’t done anything about it—should I pay

to get it fixed and take it out of next month’s rent?

I’ve been sleeping on a friend’s sofa for a couple of weeks—does this mean I’m homeless? Will the council

help me?

What is housing benefit?

What are my main employment rights?

I work part-time, am I entitled to paid holiday?

What is the national minimum wage?

Is it right for my boss to sack me because I’m pregnant?

What is ‘Work Based Learning’?

I’m gay and I’m being harassed by my colleagues. I’ve talked to my employer but he

hasn’t done anything. What do I do?

I got into trouble with the police when I was younger. I’m applying for a job - do I need to

tell my employer of my criminal record?

All full-time workers are entitled to 4 weeks paid holiday per year, Part-time workers are entitled to paid holiday on a pro-

rata basis i.e. If your working week is 5 days you get 20 days a year paid holiday while if you work 2 days a week your get 8

days holiday a year and so on. You are entitled to take annual paid leave from the first day of employment. However there is

no general right to bank holidays and public holidays. There are exceptions to this if you work for the armed forces, police and in

various offshore jobs.

Most employees are entitled to a pay slip, a written statement of terms and conditions, the minimum wage, holidays and

statutory sick pay, plus maternity leave. There are other rights in addition to these that could also apply

to you. Part-time workers are entitled to the same rights as full-time employees, but usually on a pro-rata basis. An employment contract can only increase your rights, and cannot take away

your statutory rights, even if you’ve signed it. All employees who have worked for their employer for at least two months are entitled by law to a 'written statement of their terms and conditions of employment'. This should set out what

your role is and what is expected of you.

What are my main employment rights?

I work part-time, am I entitled to paid holiday?

If your employer dismisses you because of your pregnancy you can make a claim to an Employment Tribunal for automatic unfair dismissal, regardless of how long you have been employed. You

can also make a claim for sex discrimination. You must be able to show an Employment Tribunal that the main reason for your

dismissal was your pregnancy. You will need special help to do this.

What is the national minimum wage?

Is it right for my boss to sack me because I’m pregnant?

The National Minimum Wage for anyone aged 22 or over is £5.35 per hour. For those aged 18 to 21 (or over 21 but in the first six

months of a new job with a new employer and receiving accredited training), the rate is £4.45.For workers aged 16-17

the rate is £3.30 per hour.

This is a government scheme providing training for 16 and 17 year olds. The training must result in an NVQ Level 2

qualification and it can be provided by a variety of organisations. 16 and 17 year olds are paid a training

allowance or wage.

What is ‘Work Based Learning’?

I’m gay and I’m being harassed by my colleagues. I’ve talked to my employer but he hasn’t done anything. What

do I do?It is unlawful to discriminate or harass employees because of their sexual orientation. Your employer is responsible for the

actions of their staff, as well as staff being responsible for their own behaviour in the workplace. If your boss is not taking this

seriously, raise a grievance with him/her, which must be in writing, and be signed and dated. You can also claim for

discrimination to an employment tribunal, but the grievance should be made first.

You must declare a prison sentence of more than two and a half years (or an equivalent period of youth detention or custody) if you are asked about any criminal record by an

employer. This applies to a suspended or partially suspended sentence, too. The time of the sentence is the length of the original sentence that counts, not how long you spent in custody. You must declare any conviction if

you’re applying for a job that deals with children or vulnerable adults. However if you’re not, there are some offences that do not have to be declared after a certain

period of time has passed. If this is the case, your conviction is considered to be “spent” and does not have to

be declared, even if your employer asks you about your criminal record.

I got into trouble with the police when I was younger. I’m applying for a job - do I need to tell my employer of my

criminal record?

What is a P45?

What is PAYE and what does it mean?

What is a personal allowance?

I am a student at university and work throughout the holidays – do I have to pay

tax?

When do I start having to pay my student loan back?

I am about to go to university. How can I prevent getting myself into debt?

My debts are getting out of hand and I can’t repay them all. What should I do?

What are priority and non-priority debts?

A P45 is a tax form which is given to you on the last day of work by your employer. It shows the amount you have been paid in the year, the amount of tax deducted, your tax code and National Insurance Number and the name of your tax

office. You need to give this to a new employer when starting a new job or the benefit office if claiming benefits.

What is a P45?

What is PAYE?

This stands for “Pay As You Earn” and is the way in which all employees pay income tax. The Inland Revenue tells your

employer how much to deduct. The employer must then take this amount from your wages and send it to the Inland

Revenue.

I am a student at university and work throughout the holidays – do I have to pay tax?

What is a personal allowance?

A personal allowance, in terms of tax, is the amount of money you are allowed to receive before being taxed. Income Tax is only paid on the money you get which is

above this amount.

Yes you have to pay tax. However you and your employer could complete for P38S (available from the tax office) which stops tax being deducted under PAYE. It shows that all your earnings and other income for the tax year will not go over the total allowances you can claim.

When do I start having to pay my student loan back?

From September 2006 eligible full-time undergraduate students will not have to pay fees before they start

university or whilst they are studying. Students that had their Student Loan for Fees only start to pay their loan back

when you are in work, earning £15,000 a year or over.

I am about to go to university. How can I prevent getting myself into debt?

Try not to get intimidated. Make sure you know how much money you have coming in and how much you need to have to pay off your bills, rent, food, and general student expenses. You could open up standing orders or direct debits to pay your bills. If you have a job arrange for payments to leave your account soon after your pay date. Try to save some money for emergencies etc.

Be careful when using credit cards, because you might end up paying a lot of interest if you’re not careful. Try to pay off your balance every month on your credit cards. Also don’t run up overdrafts without talking to your bank, otherwise you will be charged.

Be careful when taking out loans on top of your student loans as you could find yourself in trouble if you can’t keep these repayments up.

Don’t ignore your debts. Contact the people or organizations you owe money to and inform them of your situation. Most of these organizations will be helpful if you approach them first.

You then have to figure out which are priority and non-priority debts. After that, work out how much you can realistically afford to pay.

Think about whether you really want to take out a loan to cover your debts, you might end up having to pay more than you originally borrowed because of high interest rates. Try to

think of alternatives, such as finding out if you’re entitled to any benefits or tax credit, or simply look carefully at how much you

are spending and if you can lower the amount, before taking out a loan.

My debts are getting out of hand and I can’t repay them all. What should I do?

A priority debt is one that could have serious results if not paid. Not paying your rent or mortgage would leave you homeless, or not paying your gas or electricity bills could leave you being cut off and taken to court. It is not the size of the debt that matters; it is what can happen to you that defines whether it is a priority or a non-priority debt – it’s not who shouts loudest, but who hits hardest. The most common priority debts are Council Tax arrears, mortgage arrears, rent arrears and fuel arrears. Non-priority debts are credit/debit card debts, bank overdraft debts, and loans from friends/family. If you have priority and non-priority debts, the priority debts must be dealt with first.

What are priority and non-priority debts?

Do I still get Child Tax Benefit even though I’m working?

I’m at school and receive EMA– if I get a part-time job will I stop getting it?

I’m unemployed, what benefits can I claim?

How can I qualify for Council Tax Benefit?

I’m a student, can I receive Housing Benefit?

I work part-time, should I be taxed?

What’s a P60?

How much money can I get from JSA?

Yes, Child Tax Credit (CTC) is available whether you are working or not as long as you’re responsible for a child or young person, and have an income below a certain

amount.

Do I still get Child Tax Credits even though I’m working?

I’m still at school and get EMA – if I get a part-time job will I still

receive it?Yes, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is not based on what you earn, but your parents (or adults

responsible for you) household income.

If you are unemployed, but you are able to work, then you should make an application to claim Job Seekers Allowance.

You will need to show that you are available for, and actively seeking employment and you will be expected to attend the Job Centre fortnightly to sign on. However, if you are under 18, then you will only receive JSA if the

decision maker decides that you satisfy certain conditions.

I’m unemployed, what benefits can I claim?

What requirements do I need to apply for Council Tax Benefit?

To qualify you need to be on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings. Your local authority will make

the decision based on your personal circumstances.

I’m a student, can I receive Housing Benefit?

Most full time students cannot claim at any time during the course, including the summer holidays, but

there are exceptions. Ask your council for more information.

You shouldn’t be taxed unless you earn over £88 a week.

I work part-time, should I be taxed?

What’s a P60?

Your employer provides this form, which shows details of your earnings and tax deductions for the current year. The law requires you to keep a record of your

taxable income for at least 22 months after the end of the current tax year. Those who are self-employed

should keep records for up to six years after the end of the tax year.

The amount varies due to the situation. If you're single and between 16 and 17, you will get £35.65 a week. If

you're single and between 18 and 24, you will get£46.85 a week. If you have children you will be

eligible for more - for example if you're 18 or over you will get £59.15 a week.

How much money can I get from JSA?

I bought a top in the sale only to find a small hole in the back. I tried to take it

back but the shop assistant said that because it was in the sale I couldn’t get a

refund. Is this true?

I bought an MP3 player from a shop and a week later it stopped working. I took it back but the shop assistant said I’d have to talk to

the manufacturer. Is this true?

If I buy something from the Internet, do I have the same rights as if I had bought it

from a shop?

This isn’t true. Unless the hole was pointed out to you before you bought it, you will still have rights under the Sales of Goods Act, and should be able to get a

refund.

I bought a top in a sale only to find a small hole at the back. I tried to take it back but the shop assistant said that because

it was in the sale I couldn’t get a refund – is this true?

I bought an MP3 Player from a shop and week later it stopped working. I tried to take it back but the shop

assistant said I’d have to talk to the manufacturer – is this true?

No, because you bought the MP3 player from the shop, your contract is with them and not the manufacturer. If it has broken you have rights under the Sales of Goods

Act as it was not of a satisfactory quality. You are entitled to a refund or an exchange from the shop.

Yes, although you will probably have to contact them by phone or in writing if you have a problem. Make

sure you keep a copy of all letters you do write, send a photocopy of your receipt (keep the original), and if you talk to someone on the phone get the name of

person you speak to.

If I buy something from the Internet, do I have the same rights as if I had bought it from a shop?

Can I learn to drive now I’m 16?

I want to move mobile networks. Can I cancel my 12 month contract?

I’ve just moved into a house but I’m still getting the post addressed to the old residents. What should I do with it?

My friend borrowed his parents car last night, after a few drinks. When he crashed

the car into a wall, I ran off. But as I was only the passenger, it doesn’t matter, right?

It is illegal to drive on a public road in the UK until you are 17 and have a provisional licence. You may drive

on private land without a licence, but be careful - make sure the land is private before you drive on it.

Can I learn to drive now I'm 16?

I want to move mobile networks. Can I cancel my 12-month contract?

You’ll need to contact your current mobile network and ask. However the chances are that if they’re prepared to cancel you contract, they’ll expect you to pay them compensation, which might end up being the same as

the cost of the 12 month contract! You could try reducing the tariff on your

existing network to the lowest possible rate until the 12 months is up.

It is an offence to open, destroy, hide or delay any post that is addressed to someone else. Post cannot be

opened if someone knows or reasonably suspects the post has been incorrectly delivered. You should deliver the post by hand to the correct address if possible; re-

post in a post box; or hand to a postal worker.

My friend “borrowed” his parents’ car last night, after a few drinks. When he crashed the car into a wall, I ran off. But as I

was only the passenger, it doesn’t matter, right?

I’ve just moved in to a new house and keep getting post addressed to the old residents. What should I do with it?

If your friend was driving under the influence of alcohol, he has broken the law. As for you, travelling in a car which you know to have been taken without the

owner’s consent is also a criminal offence, as is leaving the scene of an accident. You may be facing

prosecution if the police trace you. It is recommended that you seek advice from a solicitor dealing in

criminal law as soon as possible.