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.

😯

^But, your advice has made me see that it doesn’t matter if they’re not always here as they have a roof over their heads whenever they want it, with a bedroom that COULD be being used by a lodger.
(not that I’d really want that) and if they were living elsewhere, or even in Uni digs, they’d still be expected to pay accordingly^

This. Whatever feelings and sentiment comes into it, the reality is that you will struggle to run and maintain a family sized home on one fairly low salary, even when you own the house outright and work full time. Also that, your DC can't expect their bedrooms to be kept for them, unless they pay towards them.

You're fortunate that you have choices, but there's a degree of compromise, whether it is asking your DC to contribute towards the cost of the household (if they are working, even on low wages, they'll have a decent chunk of income available), or asking one or both of them to move out so you can get a lodger or two - you don't necessarily have to go through with this, but you need to have the 'I can't afford to live here by myself and keep your rooms for you without you contributing £x hundred per month so I need you to contribute or move out so I can get a lodger' conversation with them.

Or you could downsize and/or move somewhere cheaper to free up money and live somewhere with cheaper bills?

I agree and will definitely be having this conversation with them.