Student, Childcare and Benefits Advice please.

SazM030306

In September I will (hopefully) be starting full time university for 27 months. I have 2 children who will be starting Junior school and Reception class both in September too. My hubby works 40 hrs at £8.70/hr and we receive tax credits. From March his hours will be cut to 34 per week.

Basically I need to know what we will be entitled to come September. Ideally hubby will be at home to do the school runs but will be able to work some of the week, as my course is full time plus 2hrs travelling a day. His current job won't fit around this so he would need to find another job. If he was to be unemployed in order to be able to do the school run would he be able to claim IS or JSA? Is this allowed? Sorry I have no idea on this so correct me if I am wrong.

What is the best thing to do? How do people afford to live in this situation?

Thank you, Saz.

Damzel_In_Distress

Ok,let me see if ive got this-Your husband is losing 6 hours a week work and is on £8.70 an hour and will be doing 34 hours...So thats £295.80 per week for you,him and two children.

Im sorry but i fail to see the problem ? I really really do....

On top of this you get tax credits...
...There are people feeding families of 5-6 on this amount of money..sometimes less.:rolleyes:

Your question-"how do people afford to live in this sort of situation"...what situation...?

I suggest you head over to the old style board and get some tips on budgeting if you think your going to struggle,but to be honest i think to call this "situation" your in a situation at all is really reaching...:rolleyes:

SazM030306

Thank you for your oh-so helpful information.

With Mortgage and loan payments, and everything else on top we are only just managing to cope as we are. If DH has to cut even more hours to fit in wih the children as I won't be there due to being at uni, then I fail to see how we will cope on even less income.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who manage on much less than we are, but this is how my situation will be in September and all I wanted to know was how will we manage, and how do other people manage in the same situation as me?

"how do people afford to live in this sort of situation"...what situation...?

The situation of me at uni, DH working less and bills to pay!

Damzel_In_Distress

Yes i got that-but its only 6 hours.

If you have debts its your responsibility not the states. And if your husband cuts his hours so he can claim IS or JSA well that's just fraud really...choosing to cut his hours in order to claim benefits.

With reguards to the children...you must get help with child care costs from tax credits,as most others do. There for there should be no problem.

JoolzS

If you are really struggling then I would suggest that a job, rather than a university course would be your best option.

You can still study for a degree whilst working - the Open University is a very accessible way to get a degree.

If you really can't afford for you to get a degree whilst your DH is working - well, that's just part of living - get over it and forget your degree for a few years. You chose to have children so your future life choices are now restricted by that choice.

Julie

SazM030306

You're right, there's no poblem at all, I just made it all up :rolleyes2

SazM030306

Thanks Jools, that was the other option, to put it off for a year.

Lots to think about...

Damzel_In_Distress

SazM030306 wrote: »

You're right, there's no poblem at all, I just made it all up :rolleyes2

Now your just being stupid,I simply gave my opinion and offered adivce for you to go to the old style board to pick up some tips and adivce on budgeting.
There are people over that that feed entire families on £20 a month-it can be done.

You were implying you couldnt cope losing just 6 hours work...and that your husband was going to reduce them even more on purpose in order to claim benefits! ...:rolleyes:

Its hardly the right thing to do is it...Some people can't see past their own "logic" but in this case i think you are severely over-reacting.

If his hours get cut by his employer by a substantial ammount,or he gets made redundant because of the recession then panic.
. When you become a parent you dont get the option of doing what you want anymore,im afraid your children come first. So if you were truly worried you would go out and get a job instead of going to uni and being in a "situation"

Certainly getting your husband to quit his job to claim benefits why you go to uni is not the best choice in reality is it? :rolleyes:

rosered1963

Saz - I would agree totally with JoolzS - with your small children to support, and if you are concerned about the drop in income, Open University may be the best option: I did one degree with them (while working F/t) and another degree later at a (very good) standard university (I paid for both myself). The standard of the OU tutoring and teaching materials was A1. Unless you are looking for the social angle of a conventional university course, or can't do the degree you want through the OU, it means you might be looking at running up debt unneccesarily. Its awful being in debt after a university course. You think you are going up a ladder and then fall to the bottom on a snake! Don't recommend it.

Oldernotwiser

SazM030306 wrote: »

In September I will (hopefully) be starting full time university for 27 months. I have 2 children who will be starting Junior school and Reception class both in September too. My hubby works 40 hrs at £8.70/hr and we receive tax credits. From March his hours will be cut to 34 per week.

Basically I need to know what we will be entitled to come September. Ideally hubby will be at home to do the school runs but will be able to work some of the week, as my course is full time plus 2hrs travelling a day. His current job won't fit around this so he would need to find another job. If he was to be unemployed in order to be able to do the school run would he be able to claim IS or JSA? Is this allowed? Sorry I have no idea on this so correct me if I am wrong.

What is the best thing to do? How do people afford to live in this situation?

Thank you, Saz.

If you have a look at www.direct.gov.uk you will find full details of the student funding which will be available to you. You will see that this includes a loan for the fees, a maintenance loan and (probably) a maintenance grant. If you don't receive the childcare element of WTC you may be eligible for the childcare grant and, depending on household income, the parents learning allowance. If your husband were to give up work, any means tested benefits would take all this income into account for assessment but you would be able to claim the adult dependants allowance for him.

It would be worth your while to investigate pre and post school childcare as you would be likely to get most of this funded, using the money mentioned above.

alwaysonthego_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you have a look at www.direct.gov.uk you will find full details of the student funding which will be available to you. You will see that this includes a loan for the fees, a maintenance loan and (probably) a maintenance grant. If you don't receive the childcare element of WTC you may be eligible for the childcare grant and, depending on household income, the parents learning allowance. If your husband were to give up work, any means tested benefits would take all this income into account for assessment but you would be able to claim the adult dependants allowance for him.

It would be worth your while to investigate pre and post school childcare as you would be likely to get most of this funded, using the money mentioned above.

I agree with ONW (I usually do), I am in my second year and my dh earns less than yours. I get a childcare grant which pays towards a childminder for my 2 young children. It is hard work but you need to be motivated, good luck!