Life after tax credits

[lifeonaloop]

I never thought I would end up on an in euro benefit. My family was coasting along then my partner started beating me. I ended it and 4 years ago I applied for tax credits.

These have been a god send but now my oldest 2 children have hit that age where they'll be stopped. Understandably.

I now have only one dc in school so I get a small amount for her but I'm starting to panic about what will happen to me when she leaves school.

I have a rubbish job, I don't drive and I'm up to my armpits in council tax debt.
They take me to court constantly which adds more money into the debt. They're already taking it out of my wages for the previous year (own fault I know) but £138 per month was killing me. It was either pay the electric or pay the council tax some months.

I'm in a minimum wage job which no prospects and I know that when the tax credits stop I'll be plunged into poverty.

I feel like going back to my ex partner just to keep a roof over mine and my dcs heads

If your wages are low, would you qualify for Universal Credit top ups once your Tax Credits ends? You can check via www.entitledto.co.uk/

If your DC are still living at home and working or at college/university and getting student loans then they really ought to be paying you some board as a contribution towards their keep.

Where are you - you mention euros?

I suppose you have a few main options:

Try and retrain so you can have a better-paying career.

Look into where your current qualifications can take you. There are very few NMW jobs with no prospects at all - if you’ve been doing it for several years and you’re bright and capable then there’s always some scope to progress in seniority to being a team leader or shift manager, surely?

Your adult DC will need to pay you board if they intend to stay living at home or expect to come home for the holidays (tbh I’m never sure why this is seen as an inevitability - when I was at uni I and virtually everyone I knew stayed in our uni city for holidays and worked full time to pay our way there, we didn’t go back to parents’ houses.)

You downsize to a home you can afford (I.e small flat) and your adult DC just have to accept that’s how it is and they can’t expect to stay with you.

I get that none of these things may be exactly what you want, but it’s the reality for many single adults.

Are your children planning on staying in education or getting jobs?

If they are working can they give you money towards bills?

I don't know where euros cam from? I'm in England so definitely no euros.

I gave 3 dc. My eldest 2 are still in full time education and are currently job hunting.
Hopefully they will ease some of the burden.

I'm just panicking I guess, didn't think I would ever end up in this situation but shit happens I guess

Where are you - you mention euros?

I think OP meant 'in-work benefit'.