Teacher Training Bursery and Tax credits???

goggler

I am a student applying for a teacher training course next year. I have been informed, should i be successfull, that there is a bursery of £6000 and that i am also able to apply for student loans and grants as i have previously done.

Whilst studying i have also been working and claiming the appropriate tax credits for my two children during this time.

Am i right in presuming that the bursery won't count as income?

It's just that the teacher training is full time and in order to complete the course i will have to give my job up, but i presume the bursery will not count as a wage and therefore i will not be eligable for tax credits and so will lose both the wage and tax credits, which is a large proportion of my income?

Also, if i give up my job to complete the course, and then don't find immediate employment, would i be entitled to apply for any benefits?

karent_2

I'm sure someone else will know more than me, but from what I know you will be entitled to Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit. That would be 5015 pounds a year. You'll need to check out what extras you are entitled to, such as free prescriptions, free school meals and housing benefit. I guess it will be a case of short term pain for long term gain.

When you have completed your course you would be entitled to income support or jobseekers if your kids are older.

Good luck, I'm sure it'll be worth it.

goggler

My kids will be 8 and 6 when i complete the course, and i am a single parent toooo.

I hadn't thought about prescriptions or school meals, don't think i can claim housing benefit as i am mortaged, will i still get council tax benefit for being a student?

I had a feeling it would be short term pain for long term gain, but the information of child tax credit is a bonus, thanks.

Looks like a belt tightening job to me, good job i'm well practised :rolleyes:

Oldernotwiser

goggler wrote: »

I hadn't thought about prescriptions or school meals, don't think i can claim housing benefit as i am mortaged, will i still get council tax benefit for being a student?

If you're the only person over 18 in the household then you won't have to pay any CT anyway.

AnxiousMum

Are you going to be starting your PGCE or are you getting your degree at this point? If going through the PGCE - you may want to find out exactly when you get the £6000 bursary - I know that a couple of years ago they had one for PGCE's that was a £10k bursary - but only paid after 2 or 3 years of teaching or something similar. Or.....maybe the bursary has nothing to do with the teaching profession itself - in which case you'll want to find out about the £10K golden hello for teaching in 'hard' schools Good luck with it all!

goggler

I'm just finishing my degree, and (hopefully) will begin the pgce this september. To the best of my knowledge, the bursery is paid in 10 monthly payments, during the period of the course.

Don't think i am eligable for a golden hello as my subject is no longer on the 'most wanted' list, though it was when i started the course!!

I thought that being the only peson over 18 in the house, i would only get 25% single persons reduction unless i hit some other criteria to claim council tax benefit....

Oldernotwiser

goggler wrote: »

I thought that being the only peson over 18 in the house, i would only get 25% single persons reduction unless i hit some other criteria to claim council tax benefit....

Any full time student is exempt from paying council tax, so if you're the only over 18 and you're a full time student - no council tax!

You haven't been paying this while doing your degree, have you?

kpnut79

How does the council tax exemption work for OU students?

Oldernotwiser

kpnut79 wrote: »

How does the council tax exemption work for OU students?

You're only exempt from CT if you're a full time student and you can't be a full time student with the OU, however many courses you're doing.

goggler

No, i haven't been paying c/t whilst i have been studying, but wasn't sure how it stood in relation to a post grad course.