Advice needed, benefits and none dependant working

Christmascrazy

Good evening,
Me and my husband both recieve income support, and carers allowance each for 2 children who recieve high rate care DLA, we currently take care of them both full time, they currently are not in school, home education. We recieve full housing benefit, child tax credit, full council tax benefit. we have 4 children. Our eldest age 18 started university full time this September gone, she really doesn't like it , she wants to leave and start an apprenticeship, earning from £400-£700 a month, to maybe full time. Or straight in to full time work now with her Alevel qualification, earning £25,000-£35,000 a year.
I have had mixed feedback on how this will or will not affect our benefits. Some say we loose all housing benefit and council tax benefit, which would be £600 a month. Some say we only loose council tax benefit £100 a month. Some say we loose whatever she earns. If we loose housing benefit then we loose nhs help, prescriptions, free school meals etc.
Some say we don't loose anything due to our circumstances, being carers, dla etc.
I know that its totally different if a none dependant works when the parents are on JSA than it is when on income support. But its finding out what is true and what isnt, i dont know who to turn to, google gives mixed answers.
Does anyone here know?

I have been on the entitled to calculator but it doesnt give me figures that make sense.

Thankyou

Alice_Holt

Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction is likely to be subject to a non dependant deduction. The amount of which will vary according to the weekly earnings of your adult daughter.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/calculation_of_housing_benefit/non-dependant_deductions

http://england.shelter.org.uk/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/benefit_rates/benefit_rates_201819/deductions_201819

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/non-dependants

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-council-tax-council-tax-reduction/how-your-council-tax-reduction-is-worked-out/council-tax-reduction-non-dependant-deductions-for-pensioners/

To be exempted from the non-dependent deduction it is you or you husband who need to in receipt of a disability benefit:
"If you or your partner are registered blind or claiming Disability Living Allowance care component (for Universal Credit it must be the middle or higher rate), Personal Independence Payment daily living component or Attendance Allowance then a non-dependant deduction or housing cost contribution will not be taken from your benefits regardless of your non-dependant's circumstances."

Nhs prescriptions, free school meals, etc are linked to your eligibility to Income Support, not HB receipts, so these will not be affected.

Christmascrazy

Thankyou, fantastic information.
If she did leave uni would this be classed as a change in circumstances?
In our area any changes in circumstances triggers universal credit, the thought of no money for months whilst we transfer scares me alot. I know many have been repossessed due to none payment of rent whilst waiting for universal credit to start.

pmlindyloo

Christmascrazy wrote: »

Thankyou, fantastic information.
If she did leave uni would this be classed as a change in circumstances?
In our area any changes in circumstances triggers universal credit, the thought of no money for months whilst we transfer scares me alot. I know many have been repossessed due to none payment of rent whilst waiting for universal credit to start.

This is a change of circumstances and you need to notify the local council as this will affect your council tax deduction and housing benefit.

Since you already have a housing benefit claim then this can be notified as a change of circumstances to your current housing benefit.

It is only when you have to make a new claim for any legacy benefits that you would trigger a move to universal Credit. You already have a live claim for HB so this will not affect you.

The reduction in your HB and CTR can be offset against your daughter's contribution to you for her living expenses from her salary.

marliepanda

_shel wrote: »

How on earth is an 18yr old with A levels and uni drop out going to earn £25k!

25k - 35k! keep up!

Christmascrazy

Thankyou, she is moving in with her grandparents, we will loose quite a bit and cant afford to do so. Im devastated, but what more can i do.
I think its horrible, we provide around the clock care for our disabled children and cant leave them to go to work, yet if me or my husband were in receipt of ESA then her money wouldnt affect us. Our children recieving dla and us recieving carers is the same in my eyes.
Thankyou for your help.

Christmascrazy

Exactly. Now decided on an apprenticeship due to realising its not going to happen

pmlindyloo

Christmascrazy wrote: »

Thankyou, she is moving in with her grandparents, we will loose quite a bit and cant afford to do so. Im devastated, but what more can i do.
I think its horrible, we provide around the clock care for our disabled children and cant leave them to go to work, yet if me or my husband were in receipt of ESA then her money wouldnt affect us. Our children recieving dla and us recieving carers is the same in my eyes.
Thankyou for your help.

It would make no difference if you were receiving ESA.

It is only if you or your husband was receiving mid rate care DLA or standard living PIP that no non dependent deduction would be made.

Read the Shelter link to see the exceptions.

I realise you are on a limited income but the deduction made to your housing benefit/council tax deduction should be made up, plus extra, by your daughter contributing to the household expenses. She is an adult and in other circumstances would usually be expected to contribute for her 'rent and living expenses'. Part of growing up.

silvercar

I realise you are on a limited income but the deduction made to your housing benefit/council tax deduction should be made up, plus extra, by your daughter contributing to the household expenses. She is an adult and in other circumstances would usually be expected to contribute for her 'rent and living expenses'. Part of growing up.

Why would she be contributing if she is going to be living with her grandparents? Surely any rent contribution she makes would be to them?

pmlindyloo

silvercar wrote: »

Why would she be contributing if she is going to be living with her grandparents? Surely any rent contribution she makes would be to them?

Of course you are quite right.

I was under the impression that the daughter is going to live with the grandparents to avoid the parents having a non dependent deduction made.

silvercar

One further point, your daughter needs to time her withdrawal from the course carefully. If she officially leaves mid term the student loan company are entitled to demand a portion of her student loan/ grant be repaid, they consider this an overpayment. If she withdraws at the end of term then repayments are in line with the rules (currently 9% of earnings over £25k).