really tricky student money predicament

heyhum

Basically I'm a suspended student on medical grounds. If I were to go back to full time study I'd find it very difficult indeed, and that's the problem.

the problem is because I'm a suspnded student, by law, that makes me a 'full time student'.

As I'm suspended I have no loan, no income from student sources.

Unfortuantely because I'm a full time student I'm unable to claim any benefit whatsoever, no income support, no job seekers allowance, although i'm hoping I can get housing benefit because of the fact that I'm apparently a 'full time student'.

So basically I have nothing to live on without a part time job, which I could cope with and am looking for in earnest.

I'm very lucky as I have a low rent in my student accommodation, don't have to pay water rates and share the gas and electric bill with 3 other students. thus with scrimping and saving on food I can just about get by on £200 a month.

trouble is I'm £1500 in debt to the banks. However I do have two overdrafts = £4000.

I'm fairly uneasy about this whole situation, I can't really go back to full time study because that would be the death of my degree. I'd get the shittest degree ever trust me, I just wouldn't be able to handle the full time study. Make no mistake I'm very academic though and would normally do very well indeed, this is really besides the point though, basically going back to uni full time simply isn't possible for at least 6months.

this is a very difficult situation. As I have no income and must find a job quickly but on top of that I have the uncertainty of losing a job and being left with nothing again.

Given all of this I've wondered whether it might be a good idea to become a part time student. I'm at the late stages of my first degree and must compelte one year more. Would being a part time student offer me the possibility of certain benefits? I'd intend on working part time and doing study. Don't ask me why I think I can cope with this, but I think it woulc actually be very healthy for me indeed. Whereas being a full time student just isn't possible.

Thanks

ashcarrot

First off you maybe able to get a small amount of emergency money from the student union <£500 you'd have to go speak to them about that

Secondly these overdrafts (are these interest free available funds or you mean you owe £4000?)

I got confused with the suspended bit and that, are you able to work (even if its a few hours?) normally unis have a number of flexible jobs, again student union, student union , student union.

heyhum

Yes you're right I should have applied to the student union for a job, they might have been real sympathetic.

Indeed I'm able to work part time.  it's a very tricky situation, if I explained what was wrong it would become quite evident why.

I'm about £1700 in debt to the banks, interest free £4000 available. To be hoenst I guess I could try and sell some things, or get someone to sell them for me but obviously that won't solve the problem.

Also have an empty credit card which if necessary I can super BT to at a low rate. £1500 limit.

sorry I also posted this on the benefits section.

crana9

would it be possible to change your status so hat you are not "suspended" and are free to xclaim benefits etc but you can still go back to uni when well enough..?

heyhum

yes I think that may be possible the possibilities are

Leave - then i'm a regular citizen

Go part time - then I think I can claim some benefit if in need but as a part time student I believe in order to recieve say JSA, work must go above study and I guess that's understandable, only it might make my life quite difficult if I get into further health problems.

Remain suspended - live on charity and find a part time job, but have the prospect of losing it hanging over my head. It just makes me uneasy.

I believe those are the only options I have at the moment as it's not really possible for me to go full time for the time being.

heyhum

btw, I may be in £!700 debt but I have had no income for the last six months.

stuwilky

I think given the complexity of your query you really need to make an appointment with someone at either Student Services at the Uni or via the Students Union.

There are also some independant organisations you can talk to, I can find details if you require.

I work at a University and the questions you ask all require specialist answers, because of the complex nature, one little thing wrong can play havoc.

They SU may offer some, shall we say, novel solutions. Please take the time to speak to them.

eml_3

I am a student money adviser working in a students' union. We deal with students in your situation quite regularly so I suggest that you contact the advice centre in your union asap. There may be some discretionary funding available and they will at least go through all your options with you.

I can't give you any detailed advice due to confidentiality etc but your local SU should have an advice service who will know more about what is available to students locally.

crana9

quite whose confidentiality would you be breaking?

heyhum

Thank you for all the advice and information sources.

I have made an appointment with my local CAB for next wednesday to try and get this sorted. I'll also be making an appointment with student services.

I will find the next thing out from student services and my LEA, but offhand does anyone know what a part-time student is entitled to?

I'm aware that in order to claim JSA, a part time student must be available for work full time and put 40hour work way above his studies, so much so that he must give them up in certain cicumstances. Given this I will try to claim DLA and look to income support for my current circumstances.

As far as tenency goes, I have a very good landlord, thank God. I doubt he'd want to kick me out once he discovers that I'm going to have to try and claim housing benefit. The thought of going into a Shelter does send a few shivers down my spine and helps me to appreciate the urgency of this situation.

Fundementally though I would really just like a part time job. It's hard to explain why but this would be really good for my health. I can't believe how hard I'm finding it just to get that. I'm abit restricted during some days but I've followed a number of routes to no avail. It's crazy as I worked every summer from the ages of 13-19 in various jobs and in a rural area yet now, in a city, with a load of qualifications and a load of experience I can't even get a job at Tescos {:-~

zcaprd7

Without knowing your details its hard to give the right advice (so maybe the CAB maybe your best port of call).

I remember seeing some students 'caught' in this limbo when I was at Uni and to be honest most of them went on the dole and were shocked (a good six months later) to find their benefits stopped because they didn't realise...

So maybe you could be ignorant, or you just give up on being a student for a while and be like the vast majority of people in this country?

(No responsibility taken for this advice)

Go to the CAB.