How will my eldest child finishing full time education affect my benefits?

SleepySocks

Hello, I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong place - I'm not too sure what I'm doing or how to use a forum. But I wondered if someone may be able to advise please...

I have two daughters, the eldest is 18, has just completed her A levels and is not working. My younger daughter is 15. I am in receipt of ESA, PIP, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction (fully covered by the council up to now). I expect Child Benefit for my eldest to stop on 1st September and same for Child Tax Credits. I understand from an advisor at the council that my Housing Benefit entitlement remains unaffected because I am in receipt of PIP. However, it hasn't yet been made to what extent Council Tax will be affected. I am frightened I am going to be liable to pay Council Tax in full as of 1st September. 
My daughter isn't working yet as she is unwell with depression and my ill health is a factor in her being unwell. She does a lot to support me and finds it hard to juggle everything and has lost confidence along the way so seeking employment feels completely overwhelming to her at the moment. GP is aware.
Probably unnecessary to share that detail but didn't want it to be assumed my daughter was being idle by not being in work when I am worrying about losing income and increasing outgoings.

Sorry for my waffling post. I hope it makes some sense and that someone may be able to provide a little help. I will try to get some clarity from my council but I find phone calls incredibly challenging/upsetting so will need to email them. I just thought I may be able to get a little advice here in the meantime.

Many thanks in advance.

poppy123456

Child benefit and Child tax credits for your eldest will end on 31st August, you need to make sure you report the changes, if you haven't already.

If you are currently the only adult in your home and you're claiming 25% single peson discount for your council tax then this will end. There will still likely be some entitlement to CTR just not the single person discount.

If your ESA includes the Severe disability Premium then this will also end (£76.40/week) unless your eldest daughter is either claiming a qualifying disability benefit theirself such as either PIP daily living, DLA mid/high rate care or ADP mid/high rate care. Or she's registered blind. If none of those apply to her then you'll need to make sure you report the changes to ESA.

If she won't be working then she'll be able to claim Universal Credit in her own right. If her health condition limits her capability to work then she can report her health condition when she claims and provide a fit note within 7 days of that. She will then need to go through the work capability assessment process (same as ESA)

When she claims UC she could report being your carer and then she'll be entitled to carers element of UC, assuming she cares for you for at least 35 hours per week. If she goes through the work capability assessment and is found to have LCWRA then she will be paid the highest element only, which would be the LCWRA element. This is because the same person can't receive both elements at the same time.

SleepySocks

Thank you very much for your very informative reply.

I've notified both Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit of daughter finishing college.

I am the only adult in the household, other than my eldest daughter.

My ESA is comprised of Support Group £129.50p/wk, Enhanced Disability Premium £19.55p/wk and yes, Severe Disability Premium £76.40p/wk. So when I stop receiving Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits for my eldest, the Severe Disability Premium also stops? I had no idea that was linked to my children. I assumed it was awarded because of my disabilities. So if it's linked to my children, the fact I will still be in receipt of Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit for my younger daughter will not mean the Severe Disability Premium stays in place?   

She is very reluctant to go down the benefits route so that's not imminently on the cards. We've never really added up the hours but she possibly does provide 35hrs of support per week. But again, she doesn't want to pursue that. I've had no experience with Universal Credit as yet as I've been on my benefits for many years so it's all very unfamiliar territory/terminology at the moment. What is LCWRA please?

Jimm_Scope

Hi @SleepySocks welcome to the Scope community. First of all, love the name, that's a good one!

You also don't have to apologise, you've done nothing wrong. I am going to move this into the Benefits category though, so it has better visibility and you're more likely to get advice and support on this topic. In regards to your daughter, you have found a place where there are many that understand the struggles of mental health. I thank you for providing context to your situation. I understand the concern that people might think she is an idler, the UK is in dire need of empathy, but you're now in a welcoming and understanding place.

Poppy has already given you some really good information and knowledge. Better than I could, so I am just going to signpost you places you can look to research yourself or hopefully find resources to help you. First of all Citizen's Advice has a page on changes to Child Benefit Check if a change affects your Child Benefit - Citizens Advice

Turn2Us have a benefits calculator, so perhaps you could put in what your situation will soon be to see what will be available to you Turn2us Benefits Calculator

Citizen's Advice do also have a page dedicated to finding out what help is out there for you. Check what benefits you can get - Citizens Advice 

Unlike Turn2Us they also have a webchat, as I noticed you said you find phoning upsetting. I myself would also choose a webchat/email over a phone call every time.

If you'd like to take a pre-emptive look, we have several advice pages to help with bills and expenses Help with bills and food | Disability charity Scope UK. They may be helpful even if your fears do not come true.

I'm glad you posted this here, it's not easy to ask for help. It shows strength rather than the weakness people sometimes assume. I hope you keep us updated on how you are doing.

woodbine

SDP is paid when no other adult lives in the household, but now your eldest daughter is leaving education their will be unless of course they also claim a qualifying benefit.
I can understand its all quite confusing and I would suggest that if you have a welfare rights dept. locally you contact them for help, your local council will know if there is one and where they are.
Reading through your post and answers it would seem that your daughter really will have no option but to claim benefits in her own right if you want to bring your household income back to near what it has been.

SleepySocks

Thank you so much for your warm and informative response. I've been looking blankly at my screen for too long and am unable to absorb or process anything anymore today but I will revisit your message and reply when I've recovered. Thank you so much to both you and Poppy for sharing your expertise. 
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Jimm_Scope

It's a lot of information to take in @SleepySocks, and to add on top of that it's a very stressful situation. Thank you for chatting with us, I hope you have a lovely Sunday and look forward to hearing from you

poppy123456

SleepySocks said:

yes, Severe Disability Premium £76.40p/wk. So when I stop receiving Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits for my eldest, the Severe Disability Premium also stops? I had no idea that was linked to my children. I assumed it was awarded because of my disabilities. So if it's linked to my children, the fact I will still be in receipt of Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit for my younger daughter will not mean the Severe Disability Premium stays in place?   

As woodbine has correctly advised, it's not because of your disabilities. It will be because at the moment you have no adults living with you. Once Tax credits and child benefit end for your eldest daughter she will become an adult in her own right, which would therefore mean no entitlement to SDP because she's not claiming a qualifying disability benefit herself.

Please see link that confirms that advice given is correct. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-premium