to be scared when kids leave full-time education

[spanieleyes22]

So I'm currently eligible for Universal Credit with 2 children over 16 but in full-time education. But when the youngest turns 20 I believe I won't be eligible for it any more. I don't know how I'm going to pay my rent or survive without it. They will still be living with me and will be in university (hopefully). What do people do when this happens.

She’s ten years from retirement. What makes you think she can afford the time or money to retrain, that will pay enough return in the remaining years after qualifying? Or that employers will be looking for someone at that stage in their lives with little to no experience for a new role?

How old will your eldest be when the youngest turns 20? The eldest must be likely graduated or about to graduate at that point?

If they are living with you after graduation, then they can definitely pay you rent.
If they move out after graduation, then you could consider downsizing? Are you in three bedroom place now?

In terms of how you will survive as a pensioner - you will have state pension presumably? You've been making NI contributions?
You will also be entitled to housing benefits if your pension income is below a certain level.

What an absolute lack of emotional intelligence this post shows.

Not everybody has the opportunities, financially, mentally or had the upbringing to be equipped to do a degree let alone a Marsters!

Good for you but maybe think about those who could never through any fault of their own achieve what you have.

They have to pay rent.
I'm going to increase my hours once dd finishes school. I'm very luck though and paid my mortgage off (luck, not hard work there) so shouldn't hit crisis point. I might get a lodger.

No, I didn't actually. It was very VERY touch and go whether it would have to be sold for care home fees as mum had vascular dementia, but she selflessly died a few years earlier than expected and just before I could find a suitable residential place, just so I could have a house 🙄.

She has however left me quite a bit of care related debt to deal with if that makes the OP happier.

Seriously, some people just need to take some responsibility for themselves!

@TheSnootiestFox good name for you. I'm lucky to have a job as it is. I don't have enough years left at work to do a masters and get a better paid job. It was hard enough to get this one even with all my experience and degrees. When you get older it gets harder as there are more and more young ones coming up. Bully for you anyway. Your all sorted

In retirement if you have no savings or private pension you’ll be entitled to some UC / housing benefit for your rent. You may also be eligible for sheltered social housing. Before that you’re expected to do what other single adults with no children do and downsize to a one-bed or studio. Your DC can house share with friends and pay their rent from loans at university.

I think it rather depends on what money you're actually on op. Even as a single person, you'll be entitled to some UC if you're wages are so low.
Depending on work you're also in a position to move area if it's cheaper or to chase a better job. If both kids are at Uni you can do that already.

Do they work over the Summer when they're home? I wouldn't ask for much, but perhaps discuss them getting a shop in etc. they're old enough to understand incomings and outgoings

If you work full.time, and your children (presumably) work part time to fit around their studies and get a maintenance loan, why can you not afford a small flat between you? Obviously the children will have to share a room/sleep in the lounge if they choose to continue to live with you if that's all finances allow.

Yep, my ADHD and financially poor chaotic upbringing by a terminally ill disinterested elderly father, disinterested mother with undiagnosed ADHD, sexual abuse from a much older next door neighbour and lifelong history of eating disorders really paid me dividends.

Guess what? I worked really hard through Uni too 🙄, it's a personality defect of mine clearly. There are things called student loans and I made things happen because I understood that I was responsible for my own destiny. I didn't get it 100 percent right, obviously, as I wouldn't have ended up a divorced single mum, but I'm adult enough to know that I'm my own responsibility and it's not down to the taxpayer to keep me. I'm just grateful I got some help to enable my sons to have a roof over their head and for me to work part time when they needed me. I have plenty of emotional intelligence just little patience with people who can't long term plan.

They’ll be adults so they either continue to live with you and contribute to housing costs, or they don’t live with you any more which means you can move somewhere smaller.

Yes, and Im also 52 so please stop it with the 'Im too old' stuff. Sorry you feel this way @spanieleyes22 but the only person that can turn your life around is you, and if I'd have been you I'd have been working this out 5 years ago and putting a plan in place then! Hope you get sorted, but as you obviously have no interest in my very similar story I'll leave you to it.

If the children are at uni and living away for the term then I don't think you can also charge them rent for living with you - unless that is only for the times that they are home.

Downsizing or lodger seems the best option.

Our situation. DH and I both work. We don't charge them rent at all and never will.

It makes me so angry really. Ive done everything "right" . Went to uni got a good job worked full time all my life except for a few years when kids were small yet I can't support myself without help from the state. I bloody hate that I can't be independent. And will probably have to rely on the state when I retire . I feel like ending my life when I hit 65 tbh. If I'm living in a studio on benefits I won't be any help to my children or grandchildren.

Where would they live for the 24 weeks they are not in uni. Uni terms are 12 weeks. Dd was home for over 6 weeks over Xmas and will be back mid May until late sept

That's the way I was brought up. Always supported to study. Look where it got me though. Bloody nowhere.

How much do you earn and what is your rent? Is there no way to up your income? What sector are you in? No chance of job change or promotion?

You sound like you have a huge chip on your shoulder about something.

If your kids are living with you then you are going to have to discuss them paying you some keep not expecting the good old tax payer to support what you want. Have you got a private pension which should help you manage. I had two children and no degrees and have done OK.

Your post was gloating and unkind and you would have thought that the difficulties you’ve had would perhaps make you more understanding that we’re not all the same.

I'm kinda stuck at the level I'm on. It's a catch 22 really. The next level is management and they will
Never consider me as I don't have management experience but I can't get experience until they give me a chance. I don't want to divulge my salary on here but it's pretty average. My rent is a bit less than 50% of salary.

Presumably you are entitled to UC because you have dependent children. And it stops when they are no longer considered dependent, and are capable of bringing in money, or supporting themselves.

I assume they are entitled to the maximum student loans to cover their maintenance/accommodation? Beyond the first year students generally have a 12 month housing rental, and if they are anything like mine they certainly don't come home for anything like 24 weeks of the year!

If they continue to live with you long term then they should contribute to the household costs. Or they move out, and you can potentially downsize.

Once your children move out OP is there any chance you could downsize, move somewhere smaller with cheaper rent? I think the rent is your biggest issue to be honest, rent taking up almost 50% of your salary is always going to be a struggle as that only leaves the other 50% for basically everything else.

It is very hard OP. Being a low earner without dependent children means poverty still in this country.
My parents moved when I was 18 years old and I had to sort my own accommodation and sleep on sofa when visiting home. I know it is shit, but you need to plan so you can afford your living costs. An an adult is assumed by UC to only need a 1 bedroom place.

Good for you but if they op can't afford to live ,do you expect her to starve
Adults should pay there way.