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.

It will be the child benefit, the child partnership of Uc and the rent as she as a single adult won’t be entitled to the housing allowance of more than a 1bed/studio.

OP is talking about Universal Credit not just child benefit.

@BenefitWaffle About as much as you seem to make excuses for people that can't adult. How can anyone not think long term about any of life's big decisions? Jesus, I tied myself up in knots making sure I was doing the right thing before having kids and with every decision I've made since which impacts them. I repeat, the OP asked what other people did, I replied and what I did has led to greater job security, better LGA pension contributions and a slight pay rise. I hope to improve on this further before I retire. My guidance was, put yourself in a position where you can earn more, again it's not rocket science. If more people stopped making excuses for daft decisions and took some responsibility the welfare system wouldn't be under the pressure that it is!

No, by train.

Sorry, did I miss the part where @TheSnootiestFox was complaining and asking for sympathy?! 🧐

@Howmanycatsistoomany she is 57. She will be very lucky if she gets to 67 and beyond 67 without any health problems that have an impact on ability to work or work long hours.
I know lots of middle class people will post about their 90 year old parents still working full time. But I am a low earner and my peers seem to start getting ill health from late fifties onwards.

@TheSnootiestFox So your answer was you managed to earn more money than OP. Congratulations.
I too was doing okay in my mid forties, everything changed though and since then I am low earner. And no I can not change things.
But congratulations that you are richer than the OP and will have a well funded retirement.
Happy now?

The snootiestfox inherited a house!!
Hilarious. So your wealth is not just down to your good decision making after all.

Hello @spanieleyes22

Have you looked into the Older Persons Shared Ownership scheme?

Or investigate the First Homes scheme, and co-own a property with your adult children? This would help them to get onto the property ladder too.

Good luck

That's very rude. Tbey have only recently inherited the house. Did you just not bother reading the rest of what they said.

That is hardly supportive and why many of us are appalled at your “advice”
Calling OP stupid and telling a little story of how she should have started a MSc when she was in her forties like you did and oh by the way you’ve inherited a house all to yourself is not helpful.

MN isn’t for putting the boot to a woman when she is down and crowing about your superior self who has worked hard like she hasnt and that if you can, then anyone can (yeah right, you know despite your hardships there are many many worse off than you with more hardship? Stop assuming you are most hard done by person in existence so everyone has it easier than you)

You have no idea what OP has been through or when she had to be a single mum and claim UC. Her posts indicate it was fairly recent that she started to claim so it sounds to me a case of downward social mobility, of loss of income/health, tough times that have gradually pushed her into her current position. She is being smart to look ahead ten years, not stupid. I’m sure she’s done that all along, but unlike some of us, things haven’t worked to plan so it’s a case of constant replanning.

You can work!
Your kids should be working and contributing too, both through uni but especially afterwards.

The op works full time.

Thank you, but it's clearly easier to not read the bit about mum having dementia, and I was caring for her btw, nearly having to sell said house for care fees, along with the doing extra projects to gain recognition and then doing an extra postgrad. It's just far easier to blame everyone else for a situation that there was plenty of notice to avoid and expect everyone to be gushing with sympathy. I've had a really shit life as it goes, and it's taught me resilience, self reliance and the importance of planning ahead. The OP asked what everyone else did and I answered.

OP if you are still reading, as I said previously MN is not the place to post about these situations.
It is why people think MN is dominated by the middle class, going to any meet up will tell you it is not. But those of us who are not middle class just stop posting about our situations as it is a hostile place to post. They might as well call it MN, but benefit scum not welcome. That at least would be honest.

Take care and remember raising children well in difficult circumstances - and being a lone parent is difficult circumstances - is something to be proud of. Well done.

@TheSnootiestFox The OP did not ask what everyone else did. She outlined her situation and asked what people in her situation did.

Your kids can rent private accommodation that is year-long (rather than uni dorms). After they start working properly if you are struggling they should be able to provide for you, and you can live with them.

I know I would if my parents wanted to live with me. When children are grown the support can go both ways.

And it sounds to me like someone has realised they are about to lose a huge amount in benefits imminently and has done nothing to mitigate that. Which is why some of us are appalled at the lack of forward thinking. Amazing how everyone sees things differently, no?

@TheSnootiestFox You were brought up by at least one parent who owned their own home. You do not understand real poverty from everything you have said. Maybe only talk about things you actually understand?

And it would not surprise me knowing MN if I am banned for standing up to your personal attacks against a mum posting for advice, but you will be allowed to stay.

My husband is part way through an MA. It's costing thousands. Not available for most.

There is no way I could have ever done an MA. I did a Diploma. That was hard enough to afford.

It is incredibly rude to wade onto a thread in which a poster is describing how she is scared for her future and use it as a spring board for self congratulation.

You are maliciously assuming the OP’s current circumstances were caused by a lack of forward planning. She is technically forward planning now because it hasn’t happened yet.

I borrowed 12k from sfe. Available to all!

Actually it's not. I'm not going to go into the specific circumstances of why it had to be this way but my husband was not eligible due to needing to do it in stages PG dip first, the rules are complicated and we didn't understand them at first). And £12 k doesn't cover the fees for a lot of MA courses.