Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

By the time your child reaches 20, whether they are still in education or not, they are no longer part of your benefit household.  This means that amounts of welfare benefits and tax credits you are still receiving for helping with the costs of your child will end.  This includes Child Benefit.

An adult child who is not part of your benefit household and who continues to live with you will be classed as a non-dependant.  This may have implications for help you are getting  with rent or Council Tax through benefits. It is your responsibility to make sure you tell everyone who is paying you a benefit of any relevant change in your circumstances as soon as possible. This includes His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you are claiming Tax Credits or Child Benefit.

Your child’s Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will continue, and any benefit that they are receiving directly is unaffected when they reach 20.  If you are receiving Carer’s Allowance or a Carer Premium/Element paid with a means-tested benefit then this will also continue as long as you are still providing care for them and your child still receives the daily living component of PIP.   There is further information for Carers in our Carer’s booklet.

Claiming Universal Credit (UC)

Many young disabled adults will be entitled to claim Universal Credit in addition to their PIP.  Whether they can claim and what they will need to do when claiming will depend on their circumstances.  Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, which means someone can only get it if they are on a low, or no, income and their capital is below £16,000.

Please read the following information on claiming Universal Credit and from there follow the link relevant to your child’s circumstances.