Any students?

[teal]

Hi, are any of you lovely ladies students? I just have a few questions about finances

 

[Ceejay123]

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[teal]

I'm in the UK. I was wondering how it all worked with things like housing benefit. I'm currently working but I'd need to leave my job before starting college. I was accepted to an access course (because I've been out of education for 8 years) with the plan to go to uni the following year for three years x

 

[Ceejay123]

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[teal]

Thank you ceejay. I thought I was entitled to housing benefit because I had a look at the entitled to website and it had said that students (regardless of level) who are single parents or disabled rare entitled to housing benefit. A friend had then said students don't get it but from what I've read it seems I do a fall under the exceptions because I have a child.

I'll make an appointment with the financial office to see what else is available. I seen that they helped with childcare which would be a help.

It just wouldn't be possible to be in college full time, work and still have time to study as well as spend time with my son.

Thank you for answering xx

 

[CourtneyLane]

I can help with college because I was looking into it the other month. If you're a single parent with a child under 5, you get housing benefit, child tax credits, child benefit, council tax reduction (if your council does it) and income support. You can also apply for the discretionary bursary through your college to cover childcare costs and course costs (but they might do it first come first serve like the local ones here do because it's a limited fund). You can also get a tuition fee loan for the course fees which will be written off if you go onto uni afterwards.

Hope that's a bit helpful!

 

[teal]

Thank you courtneylane. I didn't know I could claim income support while at college. I'm thinking since I need to quit my job there will be a 6 week break before I can claim.

I appreciate you both replying xx

 

[Mummy1995]

I'm a midwifery student. Let me know if I can help finances have actually worked out way cheaper than I thought they would xx

 

[teal]

I'm a midwifery student. Let me know if I can help finances have actually worked out way cheaper than I thought they would xx

Are you in college or uni? xx

 

[Mummy1995]

Uni. But I was at sixth form last year which makes you entitled to just about the same as college I believe

I got income support, child tax credits and child benefit (childcare was free as I was under 20). And I could have claimed for housing benefit. I got £140ish a week

Now that I'm at uni I get student loan & nhs bursary. The bursary includes parents allowance, depends allowance, non means tested, extra weeks allowance (my course is 45/52 weeks a year in uni/placement), means tested bursary and childcare allowance (up to £126.45 a week for 1 child). Plus child tax credit and benefit, it totals to about £21,000 a year (£1700 of that needs paying back as its the loan but bursary doesn't). And after childcare is taken away and petrol and parking it leaves me with around £8500 a year for everything else. Hope that helps xx

 

[Mummy1995]

Oh also I live with my parents, if you live on your own I believe you get more money to help towards bills as when you apply it asks how much rent you pay and what you expenses and income are x

 

[teal]

Thank you mummy1995 that helps a lot. I'm doing a year at college and then applying to uni the following year. I had no idea I could claim income support while at college. I'd sort of budgeted thinking it would just be the bursary with tax credits and child benefit and I'd read about housing benefit.

I had no idea the finance was so good for uni. It's nursing I'd be applying to do after college xx

 

[Mummy1995]

No problem hun. Ah if you'll be doing nursing then you'll get probably about the same as me! I was panicking thinking I'd not be able to do it with the cost of childcare and petrol but I honestly think me and Isabella can be quite comfortable on that x

 

[teal]

That's brilliant. How are you finding uni with placements and looking after Isabella?

I've been thinking about nursing for years but think I was always scared about how I'd manage. Now just decided to go for it. I can't wait to start this college course in August although I've not studied since 2006!! xx

 

[Mummy1995]

Aww you'll be fine!! I'm the youngest on my course. Most of them are 25+ with the oldest probably being 45 so I feel very young hehe.

I've not started placement yet. I start next month, so I shall let you know but as far as work goes, I'm finding it very easy actually!! There's a lot to take in and I 100% recommend reading up on a level biology as I know that's where a lot of people struggle, but I did a level so finding it fine. There's just a lot of info to take in. My uni hours tend to be 9-2 at the mo (2 lectures a day, but it does change weekly.) so we get up at 6:30 and get ready. Then she's with mum/childminder from when I leave at 7:40 and then I'm back with her by about 3:30 for a play, dinner and bedtime. So it works out really well! As she's in bed by 7 so I can do work but I get a nice few hours to be with her . She's done so well as well, going from being with me all day every day to what we do now

Slightly worried about 12.5hr shifts but I'm sure it'll work out just like everything else has! X

 

[teal]

Thank you and please keep in touch and let me know how you get on in placements.

I'll brush up on biology then. I studied Chemistry at uni many years ago so I took biology to second year uni with that so hopefully it comes back! That's good to know about the age range. Assuming I get into uni straight out of college I'd be 31 when I start uni! My college course is the access course (because I've been out of study for 8 years) and it's three days 9-4. I only work part time at the moment so I've never been away from my son for that long so I hope he adjusts ok.

You're absolutely amazing for being brave enough to get right into a degree! Thanks so much for all the advice, it's good to know someone who's a few steps ahead xx