I would have thought he was eligible for newstart if he is looking for a job.
He is either thinking of youth allowance which he probably wont get, not newstart as this would involve him looking for work - is he actually doing this.

The other thing is if he feels to proud to go on payments which is a seperate issue,
until 21, you either get yuth/student or yoth/job seeker - same as newstart but still based on parental income