Benefits when children reach 18 ?

typan

This is more of a rant than anything.
Until recently I was receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit, because i work part time earning 70 pound a week. I paid roughly 20 pound a month for each of them out of my own money.
My son was 18 at the beginning of November, and is working full time. Because of this my benefits have almost stopped, I now have to find 350 pound a month to cover rent and tax. Because of this I now have to ask my son for 80 pound a week to cover these out goings, before he paid 40 for his board and lodgings. So I'm having to double what he was paying and I'm not receiving any of it to run the house. So now I have even less to live on for the week. It seems so unfair that because of my situation he has to dig deeper into his pockets.
I know they calculate it on the total amount of money that comes into the house, and you're probably going to say make him pay 120 a week, but that's a lot out of his wages each week. We have already had arguments over it, and I know if I was in his shoes I would feel exactly the same. If I was working full time, this wouldn't be an issue, and he would still be paying his 40 pound. But as the situation stands, that's not possible.

welshmoneylover

Just a suggestion, why dont you up the amount of hours you work a week to help your son out?

Sue

frugallass

I don't understand what you're getting at - children become adults, simple as that

you can't claim child related benefits 34 year old - it has to stop at some point

you didn't say what your son was bringing home in wages

seven-day-weekend

Agree with frugallass, you and your son are both adults and as such will both be expected to pay your way, unless hter is some good reason why you can't.

typan

frugallass wrote: »

I don't understand what you're getting at - children become adults, simple as that

you can't claim child related benefits 34 year old - it has to stop at some point

you didn't say what your son was bringing home in wages

I understand what you're saying, but I feel as though it's my responsibility and hate having to ask him to pay my rent, it's even worse that he's hardly here much, and trying to explain why he has to pay that much while his friends pay nowhere near. He brings home 185 a week.
Although I really enjoy the small job I have, it looks like I'm going to have to seek out other employment. The thing is, it wouldn't be a problem if I kicked him out, but why should I have to do that.

Zara33

Would your son get lodgings elsewhere for £80 per week

Ivrytwr3

Until recently I was receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit, because i work part time earning 70 pound a week. I paid roughly 20 pound a month for each of them out of my own money.

now have to find 350 pound a month to cover rent and tax.

OMG! No! You have to spend your own money to live?

Welcome to the real world of getting off your a$$, working and EARNING a wage!

PasturesNew

So he's your only child, you've had an easy ride with your little part-time job and you want to continue to have your easy ride?

Life doesn't work like that! Your son has a full-time job. You should get one.

We'd all love a little part-time job and top up benefits. Hell, I'd be at the front of that queue!

It's your turn to give back now.

typan

Ivrytwr3 wrote: »

OMG! No! You have to spend your own money to live?

Welcome to the real world of getting off your a$$, working and EARNING a wage!

It's not that easy finding a job if you hadn't noticed, I've worked most of my life, at least I managed to get off my !!! and find a part time one instead of claiming JSA !

McKneff

if you and your son are the only people in the house, work out what is spent each week, rent, electric, gas, council tax,food, and then tell him he has to pay half which is what he would have to do to flat share, then see if he is happy to pay his £80. (not to mention doing half the housework and cooking)

PasturesNew

typan wrote: »

It's not that easy finding a job if you hadn't noticed, I've worked most of my life, at least I managed to get off my !!! and find a part time one instead of claiming JSA !

No it's not easy, but your original posting had an air about it that sounded like you didn't expect to have to work full-time now.