Laura

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A teenage mother tells of her difficulties scraping by on benefits.

Laura talks about how difficult it is to live on benefits (£40 a week). Her phone has been cut off as she has not been able to pay the bill. She pays all the bills every week, which means that there is not much money left. If she wants to go away for a weekend, then she can only do it by saving a very small amount every week. She had a grant to set up home, but it didn't go very far.

From: Teenage Mams

First Broadcast : 17 January 2006

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 14-16,16+

Subject : Sociology, Health & Social Care

Topic : Community and culture, Relationships and Families

Keywords : Pregnancy in teenage mothers in Wales, Teenage pregnancy, Childcare, Welfare state, Benefits, Single mothers

Notes : Discuss which benefits Laura could claim. What other forms of help are available for young single mothers? ( both state and others). Discover how much a single mother would currently receive in benefits ( this clip dates from 2006) with (eg) 1 child and assess how you would live off such a small amount - look at weekly budgets / shopping/ lifestyles etc etc. Use Benefit Rates to assess current benefit levels. Discuss your results.

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