Child Finishing College

adewolves

I am a single parent (father) working 40 hours a week on minimum wage. My daughter is 19 in September and this is her last of her 2 years in college. At the moment I get £92.00 per week which is tax and child tax credits combined and £20.70 per week child benefit. I don't get any housing or council tax benefit, or anything else. I realise that when she leaves college I will no longer get child tax credit or child benefit but will I still be able to claim working tax credit, if so how much would I likely get. Also would I get any housing benefit on those figures, my rent is £97.00 per week, housing asscociation. I know we shouldn't rely on tax credits,but it's a great help especially when on minimum wage, I'm applying for other jobs with higher pay but to no avail at the moment. I work with homeless kids and love my job but if I lose all what I am getting at the moment I'd be over £400.00 a month worse off...a huge hit for me. Any help and advice would be most welcome.

Darksparkle

Your income would be too high for WTC. Cut off is approx £13,000 if no qualifying children.

missbiggles1

Will your daughter be staying at home when she finishes college or going away to university?

adewolves

She isn't going to university she's applying for apprentiships but will more than likely move in with her boyfriend and his parents, so I'd more than likely be living on my own.

xylophone

so I'd more than likely be living on my own.

Which does mean that you won't be paying for her food, utility usage, clothes, pocket money etc, so this should be a saving.

It may be that if you contributed a sufficient amount to a pension you would become eligible for some tax credit?

adewolves

No mate. When would the tax credits stop, do they stop as soon as she's finished college or is there a specific date ? Would I get any housing benefit, I doubt I'd get any council benefit as even the unemployed contibute now. I'm not moaning or complaining at all just preparing myself for the reduction in income.

Mojisola

adewolves wrote: »

She isn't going to university she's applying for apprentiships but will more than likely move in with her boyfriend and his parents, so I'd more than likely be living on my own.

If money is really tight, you could take in a lodger.

Darksparkle

adewolves wrote: »

No mate. When would the tax credits stop, do they stop as soon as she's finished college or is there a specific date ? Would I get any housing benefit, I doubt I'd get any council benefit as even the unemployed contibute now. I'm not moaning or complaining at all just preparing myself for the reduction in income.

Tax credits will stop the day she leaves education.

Child benefit is slightly different, it will stop end of February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November (whichever comes first).

[Deleted User]

Its probably best to ask housing benefit about the changes if any that will occur.

I have a 20 year old who left college suddenly last year. I lost child tax credits, and as he was 19, it was judged that he was supposed to be paying towards the rent so I had to pay more rent and council tax. How much depends on where you live.

He now gets ESA so I do ask him to give me something for his keep which helps with the shortfall.

If your daughter isn't going to live with you, I'm afraid its time to look closely at your budget. It is quite a big change when it happens.

You could try http://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/startcalc.aspx

kittykat17

If your daughter moves out then you should be eligible for the single person reduction on council tax - 25% I think. That's assuming that you don't already receive this.

adewolves

Yes I already get that. I used the benefits calculator and it said I would get £53.00 per week working tax credit...now I'm really confused. I suppose it's just a case of waiting for her to actually leave college and sending off the forms....then waiting an eternity for them to come to a decision;)