Can you get benefits?
You may be entitled to financial help called housing benefit or help with housing costs under universal credit to help pay for a place to live. There are restrictions on how much money you could get. Some people aged under 22 can’t get any help to pay the rent.
Most 16 and 17-year-olds only get jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit in limited circumstances. But, if you are homeless, you should be able to get accommodation and financial help from social services.
Try to find new accommodation to move into before you leave home. You may think you can sleep on a friend's sofa until you get sorted, but finding somewhere to live could take longer than you think and it's not a great feeling to think that you're getting in people's way.
Think about what sort of place you want and can afford, as well as who you want to live with. This could be friends, people you haven't met before, or your partner.
If you're under the age of 16, your parents have a legal responsibility to look after you and make sure you have somewhere safe to stay. Otherwise you can get help from Children’s Social Care.
