Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if adult daughters earnings effects our Universal Credit

109 replies

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 11:11

Dh works full time, I'm a SAHM with 2 young dc and we get a small amount of Universal Credit.
Our dd moved out at 19 but needs to move back home but she's earning a good wage, more than dh.
I am trying to work out how this will effect our Universal Credit.
I've attached some information I've found online but I'm unsure which of these or both is applicable.
Does anyone else have a adult working child at home that can advise, it looks as though she's going to have a lot of money to be able to come home.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 14/01/2023 12:43

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 11:31

Not yet, we're just trying to work out if we can afford to have her back home as by my original workings out I couldn't charge her £600 for a box room, she could rent a one bed flat for that. Which she isn't ready to do.

Show quote history

sorry but this makes no sense.

it looks like £84.85 a week plus £77.87 so 162.72
plus giving us money for food and our bills being higher marginally. she's at work all day, so its what an extra shower a day and a bit more electricity for her bedroom which is £417.27 so you're adding £254.55 for food and bills. Which i reckon is about £100 over tbf.
plus if she pays £200 a month for bills and all food you've already added the money on for this.
we'd be looking at over £600. Is that right? No. Its more like the original £417 at absolute max.

I couldn't charge her £600 for a box room, she could rent a one bed flat for that. Which she isn't ready to do. so she can't go to her current housing but you might not let her come home after a trauma because you've constructed the bill to be artificially high so its too high to charge her. is this about you not wanting her home?

IF it cost you £600 to have her home (more like £320) then you could quite easily tell her this is what you need and let her come home.

Original poster
astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 12:45

@DadANDPK no dd doesn't receive pip.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 14/01/2023 12:49

@astressfulmess why would you not ask for a contribution from your dd if it did not impact benefits. DD lives at home, earns reasonably £27k, we do not claim benefits or need any money. She transfers £200pcm as a matter of principle. As did ds when he lived at home and was earning.

SleepingStandingUp · 14/01/2023 12:51

RosesAndHellebores · 14/01/2023 12:49

@astressfulmess why would you not ask for a contribution from your dd if it did not impact benefits. DD lives at home, earns reasonably £27k, we do not claim benefits or need any money. She transfers £200pcm as a matter of principle. As did ds when he lived at home and was earning.

i don;t disagree with you but there's also nothing wrong with enabling your children to save up to move out quicker or more securely

Fairyliz · 14/01/2023 12:56

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 11:31

Not yet, we're just trying to work out if we can afford to have her back home as by my original workings out I couldn't charge her £600 for a box room, she could rent a one bed flat for that. Which she isn't ready to do.

Show quote history

She might be able to rent a one bedroom flat for £600 but will also have to pay council tax, energy, water bill, WiFi and food so her bills will probably be nearer £1000 per month. So it will still be cheaper to live at home.
Also is it really fair for other people to pay tax so that you adult DD has more spending money?

Original poster
astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 12:58

RosesAndHellebores · 14/01/2023 12:49

@astressfulmess why would you not ask for a contribution from your dd if it did not impact benefits. DD lives at home, earns reasonably £27k, we do not claim benefits or need any money. She transfers £200pcm as a matter of principle. As did ds when he lived at home and was earning.

I was intending to ask £200pm for food and bill contributions that was the case when she lived at home before but now she's 22 and our UC is effected I needed to establish what we'd have deducted which from the helpful answers sounds like £77.87 pm which considering we pay £52 for having a spare bedroom if she's not living with us but will not pay that when she's occupying it isn't much at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 13:04

Also is it really fair for other people to pay tax so that you adult DD has more spending money?
Is it really fair for her to pay more rent because her parents have a UC top up for her twin baby sisters?
We didn't even claim it when she lived with us and if we hadn't had her we wouldn't have the house at all which was to home her when she was a baby.

OP posts:
Ursuala · 14/01/2023 13:09

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 13:04

Also is it really fair for other people to pay tax so that you adult DD has more spending money?
Is it really fair for her to pay more rent because her parents have a UC top up for her twin baby sisters?
We didn't even claim it when she lived with us and if we hadn't had her we wouldn't have the house at all which was to home her when she was a baby.

This makes no sense whatsoever

but doesn’t matter anyway. Don’t get drawn in to posters waffling and wiffling on about benefits / tax payers etcs

you asked a question
you have your answer

Cuppasoupmonster · 14/01/2023 13:11

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 13:04

Also is it really fair for other people to pay tax so that you adult DD has more spending money?
Is it really fair for her to pay more rent because her parents have a UC top up for her twin baby sisters?
We didn't even claim it when she lived with us and if we hadn't had her we wouldn't have the house at all which was to home her when she was a baby.

Yes it is fair. She’s benefitting from the roof over her head, we all pay for ours as well 🤷🏼‍♀️ life isn’t free is it?

henni85 · 14/01/2023 13:20

Former CAB employee here. It will reduce your UC by the £77 non dependant deduction on the housing element. That is all. Although she is living in your house, she is a separate household. I have the same situation with my 18 year old son (he works full time)

It may also affect any council tax reduction you get, so be sure to inform your local council tax department.

ihaveopinions · 14/01/2023 13:22

There's no doubt more to this than we know but a fully adult DD who earns really well should be contributing, even if staying in a box room. If part of the plan is that she saves up for a deposit or travel or whatever then the OP won't want much off her. It's not just about making up benefits/credits lost surely but a principle of paying a share and being a responsible adult. What about £400-500 a month to cover everything? Is DD objecting to paying rent?

RewildingAmbridge · 14/01/2023 13:33

£250 will cover her food, additional bill costs and UC non dep deduction. If she's earning well that's not much at all and will still allow her to save, for when she is ready to get back on her feet

Mypoorbody · 14/01/2023 13:38

henni85 · 14/01/2023 13:20

Former CAB employee here. It will reduce your UC by the £77 non dependant deduction on the housing element. That is all. Although she is living in your house, she is a separate household. I have the same situation with my 18 year old son (he works full time)

It may also affect any council tax reduction you get, so be sure to inform your local council tax department.

Similar position- may be offset in part if you are council or housing association property and have bedroom tax which would be 14%. Will also affect council tax reduction if you get it now

Sometimes non dependent deduction is not made. Entitledto is a reputable source. You can call citizens advice

JustKeepBuilding · 14/01/2023 13:48

henni85 · 14/01/2023 13:20

Former CAB employee here. It will reduce your UC by the £77 non dependant deduction on the housing element. That is all. Although she is living in your house, she is a separate household. I have the same situation with my 18 year old son (he works full time)

It may also affect any council tax reduction you get, so be sure to inform your local council tax department.

You shouldn’t be in the same situation if DS is 18 as there is no non-dependent deduction for under 21s.

henni85 · 14/01/2023 13:55

@JustKeepBuilding I just realised that I phrased that badly! I should have added that as the op’s daughter is 22, non dep deduction will probably apply. I’m good until my son is 21, but I hope that he will have moved out by then too!

I was trying to explain the worst case scenario. It’s a lot easier on the UC system for NDD. Housing benefit was more complex

EddyF · 14/01/2023 13:55

Why would you need to tell them? She’s your child and it’s her home? I think benefits only count if you are married/living with a partner. Not all parents charge their children to live at home (don’t agree with this practice; it’s pretty cruel. Help her save her money and keep her home. It’s nobody’s business especially UC.

RiderOfTheBlue · 14/01/2023 14:02

EddyF · 14/01/2023 13:55

Why would you need to tell them? She’s your child and it’s her home? I think benefits only count if you are married/living with a partner. Not all parents charge their children to live at home (don’t agree with this practice; it’s pretty cruel. Help her save her money and keep her home. It’s nobody’s business especially UC.

Wrong, wrong and thrice wrong.

loudbatperson · 14/01/2023 14:03

EddyF · 14/01/2023 13:55

Why would you need to tell them? She’s your child and it’s her home? I think benefits only count if you are married/living with a partner. Not all parents charge their children to live at home (don’t agree with this practice; it’s pretty cruel. Help her save her money and keep her home. It’s nobody’s business especially UC.

Well that information is just inaccurate.

There are, rightly, deductions for adults living in the house.

Hbh17 · 14/01/2023 14:03

Try Turn2Us or Entitled To for a calculation.

It will still be cheaper for her to live in your home than separately, even when she pays you a sum to cover food, utilities and the non-dependent deduction.

Please ignore the posters who say that she is your child and it's nobody else's business. Not informing UC is potential fraud, because she is a financially independent adult who is expected (by the state) to contribute to her own upkeep.

BabyDriversMummy · 14/01/2023 14:34

Who’s going to tell? I don’t think it’s anyone’s business, to be fair?

  1. I’m aware this is an inflammatory / unpopular opinion.
  2. I’ve never claimed Benefits of any kind.
EddyF · 14/01/2023 14:57

BabyDriversMummy · 14/01/2023 14:34

Who’s going to tell? I don’t think it’s anyone’s business, to be fair?

  1. I’m aware this is an inflammatory / unpopular opinion.
  2. I’ve never claimed Benefits of any kind.

Exactly. They are such goody goody two shoes on this forum. Don’t inform them, OP; that is your child living in her family home. Why should she be charged when she’s young and trying to get through life? benefits are a pittance rather than the stories you hear on here. On TikTok and other SM, there are so many young people and families SHOWING their struggles living on UC benefits.

The government already takes your money via so many ways/taxation, and here is everyone rushing to advise you to give them more. Your child deserves a free home and her money saved for the future. I as a taxpayer do not care in the slightest.

Babyroobs · 14/01/2023 15:08

EddyF · 14/01/2023 14:57

Exactly. They are such goody goody two shoes on this forum. Don’t inform them, OP; that is your child living in her family home. Why should she be charged when she’s young and trying to get through life? benefits are a pittance rather than the stories you hear on here. On TikTok and other SM, there are so many young people and families SHOWING their struggles living on UC benefits.

The government already takes your money via so many ways/taxation, and here is everyone rushing to advise you to give them more. Your child deserves a free home and her money saved for the future. I as a taxpayer do not care in the slightest.

Show quote history

The daughter is not being charged anything ? Op is claiming benefits and the rule is that if you have a non dependent living there then there is a deduction on the benefit they receive because it is assumed that the non dependent is paying something in rent/ board. Op will agreed when she claimed Uc that she would report changes, so if she doesn't do that her award is at risk. If op's daughter is using the address for anything official then it's a risk. If op wants to risk it for £77 a month then yes go ahead. FFS.

Babyroobs · 14/01/2023 15:10

Hbh17 · 14/01/2023 14:03

Try Turn2Us or Entitled To for a calculation.

It will still be cheaper for her to live in your home than separately, even when she pays you a sum to cover food, utilities and the non-dependent deduction.

Please ignore the posters who say that she is your child and it's nobody else's business. Not informing UC is potential fraud, because she is a financially independent adult who is expected (by the state) to contribute to her own upkeep.

Agree with this. OP has agreed when claiming UC to report any changes. This is a claimant agreement made and breaking that is fraud. I can't believe people are encouraging op to commit fraud. It is a small monthly deduction.

roarfeckingroarr · 14/01/2023 15:12

That seems a bit nuts to me that you would only lose £77 per month when an earning adult moves in.

SleepingStandingUp · 14/01/2023 15:13

astressfulmess · 14/01/2023 13:04

Also is it really fair for other people to pay tax so that you adult DD has more spending money?
Is it really fair for her to pay more rent because her parents have a UC top up for her twin baby sisters?
We didn't even claim it when she lived with us and if we hadn't had her we wouldn't have the house at all which was to home her when she was a baby.

Sorry OP I see I muddled weeks and months in my math.

But this doesn't make sense. If you hadn't had your daughter 22 years ago you wouldn't have a house despite having the intervening 22 years to get one and now twin daughters?? You should let her come back because she's you child, not because you owe her for helping you get houses 22 years ago 🙄