Single parent, tax credits ending soon and need advice please

[Bestoptionhelp]

I’ve got two DC’s , my DD finishes Uni imminently and my DS also finishes his a-levels.
Tax credits and child benefit for DS will now stop, so I’m wondering if anyone has any advice as to how you managed financially if you were in a similar position?
I work part time 24 hours in a minimum wage job, but am willing to up my hours if possible (or change jobs) to 30 hours at least a week, hopefully more.

I’ve read somewhere that if you work 30 hours when you no longer are eligible for child tax credits, you may be entitled to Universal credit to top up your income? Although when I’ve tried putting my income into the entitled to website (as if I am working 30 hours), the calculation says that I’m not entitled to anything, can that be right?
Im not sure if it’s because I’ve put that both DC’s are at home and it will be assumed that they will pay board?
My DD currently pays £25 a week board, but I’m in a dilemma as to whether or not to ask her to pay more soon, as I will also be losing council tax discount of 25% when she finishes Uni.
Another dilemma I have is that both DC’s now tend to spend half the week at home, and half the week at their boyfriend’s, girlfriend’s houses, so I feel it would be unfair of me to ask for much contribution towards our bills. But, on the other hand, I can’t afford to take a huge dip in money because they are registered as living at home, especially if it turns out that I would be entitled to some sort of UC if I was to live alone, although I won’t be turfing my kids out regardless!
I don’t really know what I’m asking, but I want everything to be fair for all three of us.

I think you'll have to up your hours, working 24 hours as an adult is unsustainable frankly you shouldn't be subsidised

Two adult children and you work 24 hours a week
What do you do with all that free time?!

Stand by for massive drip feed...

Your kids need to work and pay keep, and you need to go full time.

Tetrapelgic?

If your adult DC are working then they need to pay enough board to cover the loss or move out completely. Time for a serious conversation with them about the realities of the cost of living.
And before everyone piles in - is there any reason why you can't get a full time job?

You're working the equivalent of 3 days a week. Is there a reason you can't work more? You may not be entitled to UC simply because of the pay you'll get for 30 hours. The threshold is fairly low. You will pay reduced council tax if your children don't live with you.

Unless there is a reason you haven't mentioned you need to be working full time (not just 30 hours) You will also need to ask your children for money towards food and bills, surely they aren't expecting to live with you for free?

Be careful if you up your hours in the tax year. I did that when my son finished school because I was no longer tied to school hours and couldn’t live on the part time salary. However, because they average over the whole year and not just to the point you stop receiving it, I ended up having to pay back most of what I’d received that year.
think about the timing carefully if you do increase your income/hours.

£25 a week probably doesn’t even cover food? If your daughter has finished uni i think you’ll have to ask her to cover her expenses. She’ll be working, you e subsidised her through uni, it’s only fair

When your DD and DS finish their education and get jobs, the three of you need to make a list of all household expenses and bills and pay a share each in proportion to their earnings. DD and DS are adults now and need to pay their way. If they can't find jobs they'd have to claim benefits in their own names.

I have had full time jobs, and yes I have my reasons why Ive been working part time for the last few years, but don’t wish to discuss them on here as it’s nobody’s business.

Is there a reason you're working part time?

What is DS doing after A levels? If he's working, he could pay board. If he's studying your position shouldn't change.

The most straightforward solution would be to work full time.

But now you’re willing and able to work more than thirty hours
so go for it!

Cutting straight to the point you've worked part time (24 hours) to Milk the tax credits system and now your worries you won't manage??

You need to work full time and earn your own money simple as that

That's the problem with the system it enables people to be lazy

I was a working single parent in this position. I worked as many hours as I could and asked for more contracted hours as soon as kids became independent. By the time this happened I was on full time hours. I know this doesn't help you, but it's what all single parent families should plan for. Teenagers can easily cope with a parent working a 40 hour week. I knew tax credits would end but they had already gradually decreased so I didn't miss them so much. As a side bonus it helped with my pension. I'm incredibly grateful for the support I got when I needed it, but I never took it for granted

Ignore those who choose to judge without knowing the reality of your situation or life as a single parent. I wouldn’t wish being a single parent trying to juggle work on anyone. It soul destroying and relentless.

For me I was dealing with cancer treatment and an employer who ‘milked the system’ to pay me minimum wage because my salary was being topped up by tax credits. When I said I couldn’t afford to live on my salary as my tax credits were stopping and would instead be looking for a job at my local supermarket which meant lower travel and parking costs they upped my wages significantly and started paying what I was actually worth…

How can it be off topic to ask why OP works those hours if OP is asking about working hours and benefits?

When this was on the horizon for me, I was working full time. Tax credits and CSA stopped, single person council tax allowance stopped.

You have to face the fact that you have adults living in your home and they have to pay their way. They have to get jobs and contribute.

In my case, eldest moved out at 19 to live with his GF and a year later his brother left for uni. I sold the house and downsized. But both were working and paying towards the household before they left.

Yes it does seem that some people only want to try and bring you down.
Funnily enough, I know a few people who look down on ‘benefit scroungers’, yet they are cheating the system more than most by pretending their income is lower than it really is!
Theres one in particular I know of who moans about people who claim benefits and how it’s disgusting that they ‘milk the system’ , but her DH is a self employed builder whose accounts are let’s say ‘adjusted’ to make it look like he earns peanuts to the tax man. BTW I know this as a fact.
Isn’t that milking the system by cheating the tax man?

I actually wonder just how many of those who pile on to me on this thread are totally above board. Yes some will be, but I bet there’s some that aren’t!

Assuming the reasons you needed to work part time are no longer in play. Go full time. Working part time is great. If you can afford it. I would perhaps charge a small amount of board to the kids if they are working as well, if you need them to.

Because I didn’t ask for questions why I was working part time. That’s personal and my business only. I asked for advice regarding upping hours and paying board.

Thank you, I find the most judgemental people are usually the ones who should be judged themselves!
Sorry that you went through all that you did, it must’ve been very difficult for you,

TBF I think more information, even if it’s general, about why you need to work part time would help with suggestions.

No point suggesting you move to 37-40 hours a week if you can not work that due to disability or caring responsibility.

But also understandable that you don’t want to share the detail.