The Adults Who Are Still Relying on Pocket Money

　　More than half a million parents are still giving "pocket money" to offspring in their thirties or older, according to a survey.

　　Research found that 631,000 parents provide their grown-up children with substantial regular financial support, and for some 148,000 this continues beyond the age of 44.

　　Mark Maguire, a spokesman for Egg, which questioned 1,000 parents, said: "We found a surprisingly large number of parents were providing substantial on-going financial help.

　　"These are obviously not people receiving pocket money in the way children do – 50 pence to buy sweets - but it could be described as an allowance.

　　"Sometimes it was help with rent or a mortgage, sometimes it was people living at home rent-free, with their food and bills paid for them."

　　Many others are simply unable to afford to stand alone because of high student debt and rising housing costs.

　　"This has shown that the social fabric is changing and parents are supporting their children for longer," Mr Maguire said. "It's an additional burden on parents who would otherwise be concentrating on their own life and retirement and using the money to enjoy themselves."

　　Christian Jennings, of the National Family and Parenting Institute, said: "Families don't stop at 18 and have always supported each other. However, in recent years the cost of property compared with wages has risen enormously, so there's a definite trend of young people needing more help."

　　The findings back a separate survey last year which found that a quarter of parents expected to be helping their children financially into their 40s.