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.

We cross posted 😃

Most major cities are probably the same, there are several universities around Manchester and Bristol too.

If you seriously believe that an MA is available to all that you have absolutely no understanding of how some people's lives are.

And not everyone is even capable of doing an MA.

Could you learn a marketable skill that you could use for freelancing eg photoshop, web development, editing/proofreading etc?

You might not earn much at first but if you get good enough to build up a steady client base it would help.

OP already earns an average wage. She is doing fine financially. The issue is that there is just her income and rents are too high.

It's no worse than you assuming health issues etc that we have no evidence of. This is getting dull now. The OP asked what other people did, I told her my lived experience. And then lots of people tell me it's not doable or there's no point despite the fact I've just done it and altered my situation considerably. Sorry to disappoint, but I repeat that you don't suddenly wake up and your kids are in their 20s and your benefits stop. You have had quite a bit of notice and it is up to the individual to plan accordingly.

What size house are you in now ?
I guess you get housing allowance part of uc ?

Op you have done everything you can.
Worked full time and raised your children.
Wages have not increased and rents and basics are raising so much that people are really struggling.
I have no advice but don't feel like a failure.
It's not you. It's the system

@TheSnootiestFox you have ignored my comment politely pointing out your lack of reading comprehension. That is not what the OP asked. How does it help her people saying I am more well off than you and have a good pension.
She asked what people did in her situation. You are not in her situation. She was not asking you. So stop making this post all about you.

Pension pot?

How rude… I’m sure also you have no sympathy from other voters, I would suggest a second job

So OP is supposed to work say 60 hours a week until she is 70 or beyond? Bloody hell.

@spanieleyes22

Im a single parent, with one son at university. Fortunately I never had to rely too much on benefits but I did get a small amount of tax credits, child benefit and my son was in receipt of DLA. My benefits ceased when he was 18. I started planning for it when he was 16.
If you have time before you lose the benefit then start planning now, dont wait for the day you don’t get the payment. If you can’t increase income then you have to reduce outgoings. Where can you make changes to your expenditure

Can I also suggest a bit of a change in mindset. If you are working full time and can’t increase your income then your children will need to make up the shortfall.
stop thinking of it in terms of ‘charging’ them. They are adults and can contribute to the household costs.
Be realistic about what expenses you are covering for them. Sit down with them and set it all out, income versus outgoings.
I did this with my son was he was 18. We arrived at an agreement that he would contribute £250 to the household budget. He was earning well from a job at Tescos, which he still has at university. I didnt need a contribution over Christmas and won’t over Easter, but he’s home for nearly 4 months in the summer so will need to contribute. He is also very good at paying the odd one off bill and covers his own phone, clothes and runs a car. I think its a fair amount, he can afford it and still save.
He’s an adult, I’m still subsidising him, but he does need to learn how to ‘adult’ for himself

No, Durham.

Are they In student halls - they may have to look at moving to different student let - some private student rentals let them stay year round - I am guessing you are low income they can apply for living cost grants if you are low wage I think.

Have you looked at your entitlements OP?It might be worth getting them checked out.

What do you need to be able to cover your essential costs? Rent, bills, etc.

I don't think that posters saying "do a masters" are being very helpful. The welfare state is meant to be there to provide a safety net for people - the OP is working full time - it's a disgrace that she won't have enough to live on to even a basic level.

@HelenHywater She will not get any UC once she has no dependent children. She earns above minimum wage and a single adult on minimum wage is not entitled to anything unless disabled and can claim PIP.

2….s

Agree with this. I wasn't even capable of doing A levels let alone a degree. I'm not academically inclined. I certainly wouldn't be putting myself £12k in debt to do something I'd likely fail at anyway!

I paid my parents rent back in the 90s.I will be doing that with ds when he's an adult.

Start planning ahead.

They should pay a small amount of rent when they earn. Get them used to buying things for themselves, part time jobs now. Work on independence skills.

Can you get a better paid job? Retrain, learn new skills, courses to improve your chances of earning more.

Pay down any debts as and when you can.

Look at money saving threads. Sell what you dont need and make sure larger items are not non credit.

When they move out, a lodger? Additional hours working?

I'm sorry you feel this way.

But how on earth can you call your job 'good' when you already work full time but are relying on UC to get by? Especially if you are university educated.

Is it possible that you've been working a bad job that doesn't value you monetarily for too long and as a result you are in your current situation?

@RiderofRohan she earns an average wage. So do many people with degrees.

Could you host foreign exchange students whilst your own children are at University? that pays quite well and would make up the drop in income.

Are you renting or do you have a mortgage. If a mortgage I would rent a room out if not then maybe you will have to rent a room unless you are able to get a better paid job. I think it's very hard for single parents who work. They struggle to pay for everything as it is whilst juggling a full time job probably one that fits around the kids. But once the kids have grown up and left they have no financial support and probably at an age it's too late to retrain.