Does anyone know how likely it would be for a 16 year old boy to be prosecuted for having sex with his 15 year old girlfriend? Their relationship lasted for well over a year and they were having sex when they were both 15.
America has a much higher rate of teen pregnancies than the UK and the financial benefits are much less generous there, and practically at subsistence level in a few states, so I'm not convinced that's it.
When the woman you refer to started her baby career 18 years ago the benefits weren't so good in the UK either.