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.

This is an option too. Many people take this route if their DC can commute to Uni from home, especially in major cities like London.

@Trysull We have one university near us within that distance. Poverty does restrict where children can attend.

Well you work beyond retirement age! In the meantime, you need to downsize/house share/relocate to a cheaper area, get a second job, and save. Totally doable.

@Howmanycatsistoomany Many poorer people can not work beyond 67 and can not get a second job. The poorer you are, the more likely you have ill health at a younger age.

Just so my maths is correct OP will be losing £40 a week?

Not necessarily. Where I live is easily accessible for Nottingham, Sheffield and Derby universities. Possibly even Loughborough at a push but would take about an hour each way.

560 a month

It’s just that your advice to the OP on what to do would require her to be ten years younger. That is kind of a big oversight. I wouldn’t be calling anyone “stupid” as that is very unkind and uncalled for. We all have blind spots and things we miss as we go through life, as someone with ADHD I would think you would have some empathy for this.

Op at 67 if you are only getting the state pension, you will get pension credit. You can also apply for local authority or housing association housing for older people. In most areas these are under subscribed. A friend lives in a small block of flats, and there always seems to be activities from quizzes to outings. It seems a really nice place to live. So please do not think your future is automatically bleak.
Whatever you do, avoid debt like the plague. Your health can quickly change, if you end up ill for a long period of time and are in debt this can be catastrophic. So however hard live within your income.

My friend is in a similar situation.
Youngest turns 20 this year.
Marriage breakdown reduced her to one income household.
She is looking for a second job.
Taking on any overtime offered.
Trying to gain a promotion.
Charging her kids rent.
If that doesn't cover it, she will downsize.

There are 5 universities within an hour of me by public transport and I’m nowhere near London.

Thanks for correcting me

@Caravaggiouch Wow!!!
Or do you mean within an hour by car?

I said having an epiphany at 57 was stupid. As I also said, as a UC claimant we all know the rules and you don't suddenly wake up with a 20 year old or two. You can make all the excuses you like, but if people like me with more baggage than a major airline can figure it out, then anyone can. I have all the empathy in the world for people in difficult situations not of their own making, but it's a different situation here.

@Beezknees You mean by car presumably. Those commuting costs are unlikely to be feasible in the situation OPs children will be in.

No, I mean by bus, train or Metro. I live in Newcastle.

Newcastle
Northumbria
Sunderland
Durham
Teesside

And frequently a Masters has little impact on salary.

Birmingham?

One of my DC is at university in Birmingham and there are lots of commuter students from a pretty wide catchment area. It definitely seems to be more of a thing now than it was when I was at university.

What if they want to go to Oxford/Cambridge and get offers?

@TheSnootiestFox have you missed that MN is supposed to support parents? Or do you go around thread to thread telling parents they should have thought of z situation before having children?

Well, yes, but this OP has not mentioned health issues and is only in her 50s.

No, Newcastle.

OP - last piece of advice from me. Do not post on MN for advice about benefits or poverty. The advice is usually either from people who do not understand benefits or poverty e.g. surely you would get UC, sublet a room and so on. Or it is pretty horrible posters who just want to give a kicking and feel superior.
If you are successfully raising children as a lone parent while working, you are a success. It is not easy.
If you want advice on benefits or money post on moneysavingforums instead. They are supportive and importantly understand what they are talking about.

Then they go and find a way to fund it? Same as anyone else? I didn’t stay at home for university either, I’m just correcting the notion you were putting about that it’s only an option for Londoners.

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit/what-youll-get

How is £560 a month calculated? Unless I'm just missing the plot.