Universal Credit taking off £90 per month for son at Uni elsewhere

[SHE330]

Has anyone else successfully challenged this please?

My son lives 3 hours away in halls, obviously pays his rent there. I have just had my UC reduced by £90 a month as "he is expected to contribute" to my rent as he is over 19.

I have pushed back and asked why should he pay towards 2 rents, but have not had a reply yet.

googling shows "No, university students living away to study generally do not cause a mandatory contribution (non-dependant deduction) to be taken from their parents' Universal Credit housing element, provided the student still treats the parents' home as their main residence. 1, 2]"

Are you the only adult living in the house? If you are, don’t you have proof of council tax single adult occupancy?

How old is your son?
There should be no non-dependent deduction if he’s under 21.
What does it actually say on your statement?

I have an older child that lives here too, so get one deduction already which is correct. He pays towards rent

He is 21 - in his 2nd year at Uni

Statement says about the deduction -

2 adults living with you who are expected to pay towards the rent -£186.04

The only thing I can think to do is take the 21 year old off of my claim totally, and then when he comes back over the summer just view it as a long term visit until he goes back in September

Are you in social housing?
You may end up needing to pay a spare bedroom charge if you remove him altogether.

Yes, that is a good point actually.

I am downsizing to a 2 bed as my oldest is moving out this year. But yes, if I take the youngest off now then I suppose I can't put him back on my claim

these are Government figures per week
Weekly Deductions (April 2026 – March 2027) 1, 2]

Adult Child's Gross Income 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]Weekly Deduction from HB
Not working or working under 16 hours
£20.40
Less than £192 per week
£20.40
£192 to £278.99 per week
£46.85
£279 to £364.99 per week
£64.35
£365 to £484.99 per week
£105.20
£485 to £604.99 per week
£119.85
£605 or more per week
£131.45
so for example an adult child earning minimum wage of £12.71 35 hours per week is 444.85 gross per week so they assume they are paying £105.20 a wek or just over £420 a month

No, this is for housing benefit.
OP receives housing element of universal credit- different rules.

For UC, some students are classed as non-dependents and are not exempt. Being a student doesn’t automatically make them exempt. See this Shelter page.

That link says that -
Students who are staying at another address for the purpose of their studies can sometimes be treated as a non-dependant. For example, a university student who is staying in student accommodation but normally lives at their parent's house. The claimant's bedroom entitlement can still be worked out as though the student is living with them, as long as their absences from home fall within the rules for temporary absences. A housing cost contribution is deducted, unless the claimant or the non-dependant is exempt

But Entitledto says -
There will be no deduction made if the non-dependant:

• is aged under 18
• is in receipt of Pension Credit (savings credit cases as well as guarantee credit)
• is under 25 and receives Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (assessment phase) or Universal Credit with no earned income
• is in receipt of a training allowance or a YTS scheme
• has been a patient in hospital for 52 weeks or more
• is a full-time student (but deductions may be made during the summer vacation if the student does any paid work in this period)

Am I being thick or are those 2 saying the opposite of each other?

You are looking at the wrong section. If you look at Entitled To’s page here, you will see full-time students are only listed as an exemption under Housing Benefit and not UC.

Thank you @scoopofmintchocchipicecream , I didnt realise different rules applied for HB and UC re over 21s at Uni

Gotta feeling a big bill maybe coming my way 😫

ive had the same. shes 22 just, but still in her 3rd year of a 4 yr paramedic course.ive seen others say if still in full time uni then can appeal if you prove it, which i can but uc have said basically tough shite

Thanks for the post Dawn, did you have to pay back any money for the months they didn't deduct the £90 off of your UC?

Did you try and appeal? x

yes, i have the same amount coming off monthly, im assuming for a year since shes 22. i have sent a message asking if there was any way round it but they just said thats how it it so no but im going to look into it more next week when i have more time

Assume he’s only recently turned 21?
It should be an automatic deduction due to his date of birth on the claim and you don’t need to pay it until he’s 21.
There shouldn’t be an overpayment.

@thisfilmisboring123 His birthday is Jan, so there may be 2 months where the deduction didn't take place.

So not too big a bill if so 🙏

It is unfair isnt it - so when he leaves he has to pay back his Uni fees, now he has to pay his rent AND I lose out this amount and still have to subsidise him because even though he has tried, he can't get a job where he is living whilst at Uni. So I pay for a big food delivery per month for him.

Seems a lose/lose situation for Uni students from poor homes. There really is little point in promoting Uni for families like mine it seems, as I am losing money hand over fist.

And now the course has nearly finished for the year it isnt worth him getting a job where he is, as he is coming home for the summer. Which unless he gets a summer job (he is trying already and contacting anyone he can here, but no luck yet) I will have to pay for his food, he wont pay rent AND I lose £90 a month for the privilege!! Good job I love him 😂

I get LCWRA as am not well enough to work more (I work every day but reduced hours) so money is already tight.

Can't see a way out of this.