My daughter started working, advice needed about benefits please.

Tilly1990

Hi everyone, 
I'm looking for some advice or guidance if anyone can help.

I work 28 hours per week alongside claiming universal credit, this comes with a housing benefit element and limited capability for work-related activity due to having mental health disorders including bipolar and ADHD, PTSD and sensory processing disorder. 

My youngest daughter, who lives with me at home left school in December last year and began a 12-week training program as soon as this ended. She was without a job education or training and I lost the child element to universal credit and her child benefit so have been getting no help financially to support her as she is over 16. 3 weeks ago my daughter began her first big job where she is working almost 40 hours a week earning £12 an hour. 

I have contacted the local Council, citizens advice bureau and universal credit to ask for guidance. However, no one seems to be able to give me the information I require and cannot seem to point me in the direction of who can.

What I would like to know is this.... 

Does my daughter now need to register for universal credit even though they won't give her anything? 

Who do I need to inform that my child who is now working alot and is still living with me and how will this affect my benefits?

Will my child be asked by local authority to start paying rent and council tax for the home we share? I already pay rent and council tax for our home.


Also, if anyone can tell me how to complain about universal credit ignoring my message to my work coach asking for support, guidance and advice through my online journal. Please let me know how I go about that too.

Thank you 

Spoonie_Turtle

Universal Credit don't need to know.  This will not affect your rent or the rest of your UC in any way.

The council may potentially need to know, if she is 18 or over (I believe that's the age at which adult nondependants may start to count, unless they are disregarded for any reason). 
[I wonder, does she provide any care and do you claim PIP?  If yes, it could be worth having a look on your council's website to see if she can be disregarded as a carer.  But it's just a thought, don't take this as any indication that she would be.]

KxMx

As you receive LCWRA element, I wouldn't expect you to have a work coach.

Messages go to a service centre instead where as you've found, replies can take a very long time.

If your daughter isn't entitled to any UC in her own right then no she doesn't need to apply. 

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Your own UC award is not yet impacted by her working so no need to tell UC with regards to your own claim. 

You receive Housing Element via UC to pay your rent. Your Daughter won't be expected to contribute until she is 21. No non dependant deduction will be made to your Housing Element until she is 21. If you get Daily Living PIP, then no non dependant deductions will be made regardless of her age. 

You do need to inform your local council benefits department to have your Council Tax Reduction re calculated.

CTR is decided on at a local level with each local authority having different rules for this meaning it's very hard to advise on individual cases from here.