What money can I get to aid my education

wishihadmoremoney

I'm a single mum of two, working and claiming working tax and child credits. When I hit uni in 2010 though I have been told that I can't claim WTC anymore unless I am working over 16 hours a week, which I can't do as I will be a full time mature student. The bursary that I will get from Uni won't even pay my mortgage. Is this right, anyone know what I can claim. I don't want to get into student loans n stuff as have too much going on now money wise but how do people cope if they have comitments and want an education to better themselves? Please help!!!

Gemmzie

You won't get any help unless you take full advantage of your student loans and grants, sorry.

Oldernotwiser

There's no point in not taking out the student loans as your benefits (assuming that you would go on to IS when you stop work) will be reassessed as if you had anyway. You'll also need to take out these loans to pay for fees.

Student Loans are totally different from normal loans and you really shouldn't think about them in the same way. If you don't understand the system then I'll give you more information or you can look yourself on www.direct.gov.uk

The only way to avoid this is to consider studying part time whilst working. There are many places where you can do this but the obvious place to start is by looking at the OU. www.open.ac.uk If you're on a low income (there's a financial check list on the site) you may be eligible to have the fees paid for you.

Good luck.

yorkshire_grafter

Hi

If you are a full time student you'll be exempt from paying council tax. You will need to provide the local authority with a student certificate (the uni can provide these)

Good luck with your studies

wishihadmoremoney

Thats good about the council tax, I work now and at college part time doing the access course but the 3 year nursing degree is only full time unfortunetly. The thing is, towards the middle of the degree, I'll be doing shifts in hospitals all around , wherever they place me, so I will essentially being doing unpaid work and ungodly hours but the government won't see this at work, hence no tax credits, if only I could still retain working tax and the bursary, i could cope and only have to take out a student loan in an emergency. I also know of people who had to give up there degrees because they worked in bars to supplement their bursaries and were too knackered to study. If only I won the lottery! It's all a bit daunting. Thanks anyway guys

Oldernotwiser

wishihadmoremoney wrote: »

Thats good about the council tax, I work now and at college part time doing the access course but the 3 year nursing degree is only full time unfortunetly. The thing is, towards the middle of the degree, I'll be doing shifts in hospitals all around , wherever they place me, so I will essentially being doing unpaid work and ungodly hours but the government won't see this at work, hence no tax credits, if only I could still retain working tax and the bursary, i could cope and only have to take out a student loan in an emergency. I also know of people who had to give up there degrees because they worked in bars to supplement their bursaries and were too knackered to study. If only I won the lottery! It's all a bit daunting. Thanks anyway guys

It's ridiculous for anyone to try to study for a degree without taking out the funding available, which in this case is the loan and bursary. The Student Loan isn't intended for emergencies, it's to live on and if you don't take it out you won't be eligible for any emergency support through the Learning Support Fund either.

In addition to the loan and bursary you'll get extra money for any longer terms and financial help with childcare. I think you'll find that those doing extra work have also taken out the loan; unless you have rich parents/partner/savings, it's not really possible to study at this level without taking out all available finance.

kazwales

can anyone help with advice please? My teenage son ( almost 18) is a BTec sports student and I have to pay over £80 a week for him to stay at other accomodation for several weeks of his year. I live in cardiff and he has to go to south england to stay for part of his course. I also pay in excess of£200 a month transporting him to various venues as he has to train and play tennis in competitions. I am a single parent on a low income...

Oldernotwiser

kazwales wrote: »

can anyone help with advice please? My teenage son ( almost 18) is a BTec sports student and I have to pay over £80 a week for him to stay at other accomodation for several weeks of his year. I live in cardiff and he has to go to south england to stay for part of his course. I also pay in excess of£200 a month transporting him to various venues as he has to train and play tennis in competitions. I am a single parent on a low income...

If the costs are a compulsory part of his studies, you should ask at the college Student Services regarding additional financial support. They're not going to help with his tennis expenses and I don't have any experience with this but perhaps it would be worthwhile contacting the LTA or Sport England to see if there's any funding you can access.

Wicked_witch

wishi, what type of course are you doing? I am a full time student, but only actually have to attend uni 2 days a week, so i work 22 hours as well- am also a wife and mum. It might be worth checking how many hours you will have to do before you really start worrying.

flufff

If you go as on a full time course you will have to come off income support and apply for grants and loans.It does not matter if full time is 1 day or 5.The job centre will stop your money and you have to fund your course.However you may get benefit top ups but I cannot be sure what or how much.

However go on a part time course and you local education authority will pay for it.Again could be 1 - 5 days stupid isnt it.You will have to exist on your current benefits but wont come out with student debt.I'm currently doing this studying law part time at staffs.Difference to me is 1 year or 1 module conssisting of 4 hours per week between full and part time.

Some Unis have afund you can apply to for asssistance for travel and childcare depending on funding and circumstances.

Job centre are useless
Your best bet for info is government/course portals online

flufff

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceForNewStudents/DG_10034863

Hope that link helps.Go part time and forget the debt