Son having to take a gap year, how will it effect my benefits?

wrendale

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction of the best place to look or if anyone will know the answer please?

My son has his final A level exam tomorrow (23rd June) and unfortunately will have to take a gap year due to being rejected from his 4 uni choices.  He will be applying again in October this year but in the mean time he will be staying at home.

He's 18 (just turned) and is more than happy to get a job over the summer to gain life experience and earn his own money but he has been advised by one uni that rejected him to do some volunteering in his chosen field during her gap year, as well as getting the required volunteering hours up that he needs to apply for his course.

He has today been offered volunteering hours Monday - Saturday 9am - 3pm from September - however he is more than happy to work at the weekends.

So I'm wondering how will it affect my benefits?  I know it will but I'm not sure which ones will exactly go down or if I should inform them that he's volunteering and not being paid until he finds a job.

I currently receive Universal credit (joint claim and my husband receives the limited capability for work and work related activity element due to his disability)
housing benefit is included in the UC payment

Child benefit and carers allowance.

I know I will lose the child benefit amount for him and my carers allowance won't be affected but will my UC and housing?

I've called the local council to ask them but they told me to contact UC and ask them as they don't pay me housing benefit anymore which I will do tomorrow.  I'm just trying to be prepared ahead of August which when I believe they will start to be reduced.

Wren x

YBR

I'm sure someone will be along to answer the benefits question shortly, but you son should try the "clearing" process when he has his results. This might be successful particularly if you can find some volunteering role between now and then, and if not has lost nothing.

poppy12345

The child element of UC for him will also stop. You will need to make sure you report the changes. As your rent is included with your UC it's known as housing element, not housing benefit. This won't be affected.

If he'll be volunteering, what will he be doing for money?

wrendale

YBR said:

I'm sure someone will be along to answer the benefits question shortly, but you son should try the "clearing" process when he has his results. This might be successful particularly if you can find some volunteering role between now and then, and if not has lost nothing.

Thank you. Unfortunately only one uni goes into clearing for his course and it’s not one he wishes to attend especially as his course is 5 years long. 

Wren x

wrendale

poppy12345 said:

The child element of UC for him will also stop. You will need to make sure you report the changes. As your rent is included with your UC it's known as housing element, not housing benefit. This won't be affected.

If he'll be volunteering, what will he be doing for money?

Thank you. I didn’t realise it had a different name under UC. When should I report the change? His last exam is today. 

I don’t want to be overpaid but was under the impression it will automatically end in august after their 18th birthday. If that’s not the case I’ll 100% inform them to make sure they don’t overpay me. 

He will try and get a weekend and evening job. There isn’t much part time available where we live at the minute and I don’t really have the means to travel far for him but we are actively looking everyday. 

Wren x

A_Lert

The keyword you want is "non-dependant deduction".

It applies to the housing element of Universal Credit, but is not applied when the non-dependant is under 21 anyway. The rules for legacy Housing Benefit are different.

It also applies to the Council Tax Reduction/Support. The rules for that may vary with different councils so check yours.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-housing-costs/Housing-costs-contributions

https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

Spoonie_Turtle

A_Lert said:

The keyword you want is "non-dependant deduction".

It applies to the housing element of Universal Credit, but is not applied when the non-dependant is under 21 anyway.

If OP's husband claims PIP (not specified, but Carers Allowance is mentioned) then there will be no non-dependant deduction even after the son turns 21.

sheramber

wrendale said:

poppy12345 said:

The child element of UC for him will also stop. You will need to make sure you report the changes. As your rent is included with your UC it's known as housing element, not housing benefit. This won't be affected.

If he'll be volunteering, what will he be doing for money?

Thank you. I didn’t realise it had a different name under UC. When should I report the change? His last exam is today. 

I don’t want to be overpaid but was under the impression it will automatically end in august after their 18th birthday. If that’s not the case I’ll 100% inform them to make sure they don’t overpay me. 

He will try and get a weekend and evening job. There isn’t much part time available where we live at the minute and I don’t really have the means to travel far for him but we are actively looking everyday. 

Wren x

CB will stop at the end of February, May, August or November, depending which comes first after the date of leaving.