Mum swapping from incap benfit to do a degree what benfits can I claim?

Loop

Hey guys, I wasnt sure where I should put this as its a bit of both boards.

Im on incapacity benefit currently, and get housing/council tax benefit too as I live alone with my 2 daughters.

I have been accepted on a degree course and had my student finance application accepted and I will be getting the following:

student maintenance grant £4787
Tuition fee loan £2800
Parent Learning allowance £1470
Special support grant £2835
I may get a small bursary from my Uni of £830 too and I will also apply for the Disabled Students Allowance but Im not sure I will get anything.

What I want to know is will I be able to claim any other benefits on top of my student fianance? I know it already seems like i have alot listed up there, but I will have to find £620 in rent and council tax alone and support my girls.

Is there other funding I can get? Have I missed anything?

Many thanks lovelies! :A

jackk_2

I'm in the same boat lol, i can't even work out what i'm getting from my award letter . I have 3 dependant kids and a long term sick OH, so i'll be interested to see your replies .

Jackie x

cardiffforthefacup

You will be able to claim incapacity benefit for up to six months after you start your course and it won't affect your claim for student finance, this would be the same if you got a job as you may find that it affects your illness? You will however if you carry on claiming incapacity be above the threshold for housing benefit so will have to cover your own rent I expect, you won't have to pay council tax if you are a student unless you are part of a household that has a person working fulltime in which case you would be entitled to a discount of 25%. Worth your while going to student finance office at your uni for clarification and they can give you all the information and details of your entitlements.

Titch89

Is the £620 rent per month?

Loop

My rent is £500 council tax is £120

So effectively I would pay £500 a month on the rent but would still be able to claim my incapacity, and council tax exemption.

I have a couple of choices...me and my boyfriend hve discussed living together and this may be the time to do it if I have to pay the full rent

My boyfriend might want to move in with me and we pay half of the £500 while he rents his place out (he cant sell it) for about £800pm

I could move to his place and give up my house but I am currently in what is classed as 'temporary accomodation' even though i have been in this house for 2 years. The issue is if I moved out of here I will be giving up my place on the register I guess.

We could find a new place rent that go halfs, that would feel like 'our' home and not his or mine, and a bigger place for the girls as they share a room.

OR

I just find a way of paying the whole rent myself, but struggle.

mcspanna

Hi Loop,

Don't get your hopes up about Disabled Students Allowances, it's (unfortunately) not cash in your pocket although it is still well worth applying for (and do it early as it can take a while - I'd contact the disability/dyslexia service at your uni now if you haven't already).

It all depends on what condition you have got - you may end up with help towards travel costs (if it costs you more because you can't use public transport for example), equipment (like a computer) to use at home or a support worker but it's more of an expenses type system (although I suppose a computer is a freebie and it would be yours to keep when you finish the course!).

Good luck!

Gemmzie

Can you work at all OP? If you did 16 hours, then you'd get Working Tax Credit with a disability premium if you did minimum wage work.

Loop

How would I fit in 16 hours of work looking after my kids AND a degree? I'd never see them!

If I got working tax credits then I would lose some of my childcare % element too, as I can claim 85% as a student but it would be less if I worked.

Gemmzie

I think it's 80% if you're working. Sorry I thought your OH was around, reading posts too fast

Loop

Its up to 80% but from previous experience when I claimed worked and had a partner, it wasnt 80% it depends on what you earn, so it could be less.

S'ok Gemmzie, Im just mindful I dont want to have to juggle my kids and my study then a job on top. Though I would go and work in the summer holidays as I could still claim most of the childcare costs and replace work with Uni.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway!

Oldernotwiser

jackk wrote: »

I'm in the same boat lol, i can't even work out what i'm getting from my award letter . I have 3 dependant kids and a long term sick OH, so i'll be interested to see your replies .

Jackie x

Right, here goes!

Your Fee Loan will go straight to the university to cover your tuition fees.

You'll be receiving £5524 Student Loan, a figure that's arrived at by subtracting £1260 as you'll be getting the Maintenace Grant as well. You're also going to receive Supplementary Grants totalling £6880 which will give you a total income of £12404 per annum.

I hope someone checks my figures as I'm just rushing off to cook dinner and I may have done this too quickly!