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Daughter going to Uni

Hi
I’m a single Dad of 3 and my eldest has been accepted to Uni in September 2025. Currently I receive UC and also child benefit. 

From what I understand, these will stop for her. 

She will be living at home (as Uni is 30 miles away and will drive). 

I need her to contribute to bills etc. but what do other parents in this situation charge? She has a PT job, and will need to also take a loan out. 

Any help or guidance much appreciated. 

Comments

  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 15,895 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    A good baseline would be the amounts in benefit that will stop.
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 10,834 Forumite
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    I never agree with charging £ for £ when benefits reduce, she is no longer a dependent child so shouldn't be expected to match the benefit income you got for one.

    Parents who charge like for like are just delaying the inevitable, as when they move out the financial shock will hit harder, than parents who found the level for a household of adults co habiting. 
  • basketcase
    basketcase Posts: 1,229 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi
    I’m a single Dad of 3 and my eldest has been accepted to Uni in September 2025. Currently I receive UC and also child benefit

    From what I understand, these will stop for her. 

    She will be living at home (as Uni is 30 miles away and will drive). 

    I need her to contribute to bills etc. but what do other parents in this situation charge? She has a PT job, and will need to also take a loan out. 

    Any help or guidance much appreciated. 
    Are you in Scotland?  If you are and haven't already done so, go to the ScotGov website https://www.mygov.scot/support-at-university.  Not sure if there's anything similar for England or Wales.  (You will, I think, lose the child benefit for her.  Possibly not straight away though)

    If in England, your UC may drop but will you not still get Child Benefit for 2 children?  (I'm thinking in terms of how much to ask for).  In your position I'd probably suggest she give you an amount towards her share of the food and maybe a percentage of the utilities. On the part-time job, is she going to be able to keep it up if she's driving 30 miles each way, studying and trying to establish a new life at Uni?
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  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,920 Forumite
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    My youngest was living at home for the first few weeks, and I explained that he did have to contribute, because his loan was not ALL his personal spending money! I can't remember what we charged at this stage. 

    I think you're going to have to sit down and discuss bills etc with her as an adult ... 
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Spendless
    Spendless Posts: 24,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    How much student loan will she receive? The amount is based on your income. Mine live/d away and received the minimum amount so we had to top up. If it had been possible for them to live at home it would have been cheaper for me even if theyd never contributed. 
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,722 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The means-tested student loan is a bizarre thing!
    It's not a grant, so why is it means tested?
    In one of my sons cases, his accommodation took up all of his loan.
    And the interest rate is RPI+3%, so the loans are above inflation.
    Our children are being ripped off rather than invested in for the country's future.

  • 2childmum2
    2childmum2 Posts: 237 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    If you have a low income then check to see if there are any bursaries available from the university.
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