OP is getting a rough time on here, for an issue that affects huge numbers of people, that of families only being supported in low income households until their children finish non advanced education.
I don't agree for one minute that children should be supported by the govt forever, but something needs to be done by the govt to ensure that low income families can afford to pay their basic bills without relying on child related benefits.
Currently, millions of families rely heavily on UC/TC/child benefit/child maintenance in order to pay the essential costs.
This notion that benefits received because you have a child are wholly spent on the costs a child incurs are untrue in many cases where the household rely on benefits/maintenance to afford to live.
If you can afford to pay your bills, feed yourself and offer basic support to your child without this help, thank your lucky stars, because millions of families cannot!
The last time I checked, child tax credit was about £66 a week. WTC was £75 a week if your income was particularly low, and child benefit was £20 a week. Added to which, there was extra housing benefit and council tax support if you had a dependent in your home.
As soon as your child left non advanced education, that all stops with immediate effect.
That's at least £161 a week.
I had a friend who worked in an exceptionally low paid job. While her DD was in education, she received the £161 a week, as well as 25% Council tax discount and her rent was heavily discounted. My friend had health issues meaning she couldn't work more hours than she already did, yet apparently her poor health was not severe enough for PIP.
As soon as her DD left education, not only did she lose the £161, but she suddenly had to pay full rent and council tax.
She applied for WTC and was awarded £10 per week.
She has since become homeless and despite working as much as she can, lives in poverty.
Another friend works 80 hours a week in a physically demanding job which has destroyed her health, again on low pay, doesnt have a partner or any children and again, lives in grinding poverty simply because she cannot afford to live working less hours.
2 weeks ago, her car failed it's MOT and now she must work more hours to get her car fixed.
One of the major considerations when contemplating splitting from a partner is how it will affect the finances.
This is the reality for many many people.
I see it time and time again on here and IRL and yet there seems to be a blind spot of many on here, where posters cannot fathom how difficult it can be to support yourself on NMW. These people aren't irresponsible. They are bloody desperate!!
Perhaps the answer is in ensuring that a single adult can afford to live on their own when they are on a low income in the first place, rather than expecting them to just magically cope.
Millions of people are living on NMW. Many of those live alone.
How many of us could live on NMW if it was the only income in the household?
OP mentioned disabilities. Perhaps OP isn't adequately supported by the govt and relies on the income her DD generates? Instead of criticising her, maybe the problem is that she should be getting more support so she doesn't have to rely on the income from her DD. * *