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’m lucky in one respect that I own my home, but rising bills and food costs will still be difficult.

I see your point but you obviously have to maintain the building don't you? So it's not just the monthly bills, it's getting the boiler serviced, repairing things when they break, keeping the garden tidy, getting the gutters cleaned, providing cleaning products (and doing cleaning?). All of that.

You have to work full time in that case. Unless there is a medical reason etc. in which case you may entitled to different benefits.

If it's just a case that you don't want to work full time, then the benefit system is not required to find your life Choice.

Do you rent or own your property. If your adult DC's get jobs then that will be condidered household income for benefit purposes AFAIK. Single persons benefit entitlement is nowhere near as generous as that for folk with dependents.

You need to work as many hours as you are able and you need to sit down with your children and explain about bills.
Tell them that you simply cannot afford to subsidise them as adults and need them to contribute fairly

Yes I do everything relating to the upkeep of our house.

i own it

When my eldest went to uni and my youngest was at college, I upped my hours to full time. When my youngest finished college, I started working night shifts. It was a struggle at 1st but had to get used to it.

My eldest came back from uni and started working part time, she would help me out. Now she works full time and pays her way, my youngest only works part time. She buys her own food and stuff and helps now and then.

Single parents are lazy? Odfod

If you’ve only charged your DD £25 p/w whilst at uni then you charge your DS the same now, until he finishes.

With DD, you sit here down and say she’s got a room in your house as long as she wants it, but now she’s no longer a student the costs have increased and it will now be £75 p/w bed and board. That’s still much cheaper than market rent for a room in a house share most parts of the country.

Explain you’ll also be losing tax credits etc and council tax discount now they’re adults, and the cost of living e.g. fuel bills is going up, so you’re increasing your hours at work too.

Them choosing to spend half the week elsewhere shouldn’t come with a cost reduction- that’s not how rent works, after all. If they weren’t occupying rooms you could get lodgers and earn more than you’d be charging DD.

So you don't pay anything for housing??
I don't see how if you don't have the biggest outgoing for most people, working full time and your daughter contributing a reasonable amount (not rent because you don't have any housing costs, her share of bills) , you couldn't manage.

Although that is all true, if op charges for that as well then she will simply be pushing the problem further down the line as when her children move out she won't be able to afford those bills, having become reliant on their income.
Op, could you afford your lifestyle/house if your kids weren't living there? If not, what's your plan in five years time? Might be worth thinking about that now and planning for it.
It's the same reason why many of us went full time before the kids left home and tax credits disappeared - better to forward plan if you can.

As adults they should be doing their share of household chores

Been through this. The drop in benefits was astronomical! You'll have to increase your hours and you will also be expected to work full time in order to claim any UC with children of that age. Speak to a benefits advisor who will help you determine the correct amount of UC, if any.

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.

It could be very relevant to your entitlement to benefits, in terms of whether you're physically able to work FT or not. But if you don't want people to be able to give you proper advice then 🤷‍♀️

Thanks. So at least you don't have rent to pay. But as others have said there is repairs etc to think about which can mount up if neglected. You just can't afford to subsidise your children. They will have to up their contributions. Depends on whether they get jobs and intend to move out. Write out all your outgoings and show it to them.

They do help with chores, but I’m on about the general overall maintenance , cost of things when the boiler packs up for example.

To be honest, I hadn’t thought about the cost of repairs and upkeep.

So if your boiler packs up in 3 years time when they are not living with you, what will you do then?
Or is your plan to - downsize - get lodgers - earn more?
Honestly, while I do think you should be charging them more to cover council tax, small % of bills, all their food, don't become dependent on their income for bills that will need to be paid when you are alone. Work towards living within your personal means now.
Yes, probably get a better paid job/work more hours/downsize/move to cheaper area.

Do you have rent to pay op ? I am just asking as this will likely determine whether you would be eligible for any Universal credit when your son leaves education. If you do have rent to pay then on UC there would be no non dependent deduction for the kids living there until they turn 21, so may work in your favour. I think without rent to pay you would be unlikely to qualify but CAB could do you a calculation.

I’m not intending to be dependant on my kids. Far from it. I wanted to know the best way to go about things as regards to them paying board because they’re back and forth just lately.

Sorry just seen you don't have rent to pay.

No rent to pay as it’s owned.

Do the DC partners come and stay at yours? If they do then that is the equivalent of full time anyway.

The other point is that fixed costs- council tax, heating, water if not metered, actually having a room for themselves is a fixed cost. If they were in a house share they wouldn't pay per night.

Upping your income and them paying board is just reality. If one moved out you could have a lodger in.

If it's just that they are back and forth and you don't want to charge more than they cost you, then it's easy enough. Just charge fixed costs eg that council tax 25%, they buy own food as not often there (or could pay you on days there) plus small % of bills (standing charges and waste water charges take up a high % of bills which you would have to pay anyway)
The remainder is what it would cost you if you were living alone. It's really expensive to live by yourself.
If you would take in a lodger otherwise, then charge them more to cover that loss of income.