Please help,I need advice on student funding

Redcase

Hi I aim to be in college in august as a mature student and need advice. I am currently my fathers carer and receive a carers allowance, I want to know if I should give up this allowance (still looking after him of course) in order to receive the bursary that I was offered. Any advice would be greatly received.
:eek:

jitsuguy

The real question is how much money does the carers allowance bring in and how much does the bursary. Which ever gives you the most you should keep.

But are you not able to keep the carers allowance and get the bursary as they are independent? Plus will your college have any further grants for people who have dependents.

Jitsuguy

Crispy_Ambulance

You may struggle to continue to claim Carers Allowance if you are studying on a Full Time course - recent commissioners decisions have gone against students claiming CA because of the amount of hours on a full time course. The best thing to do is to talk to the Student Advice Centre at the students union where you are going to study.

robhammond

Hi,

My other link may be of help but you can only apply once you have enrolled.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=179491

I hope this helps,

Rob

equine_induced_poverty

Is it a nursing course with an NHS bursary? These courses have completely diferent rules (!) to anything else. And I haven't got a clue how they work - sorry. The advice given in the previous posts holds true, contact student services and the disability and carers helplines. There may be a way you can do both. Suspect you could find out how many hours you have to be actually in college, as any other study you could do with your father. This may be a way around the situation of being available to care for him. Good luck.

vanoonoo

yes - seek advice as you are allowed to do additional "work" whilst claiming carers allowance - upto about £70per week I believe (but dont quote me!). Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help or local department of Work and Pensions (Jobcentre plus) could advise funding limits. if the bursary averages out, per week, to what you would get from "paid work" then it may be possible to claim both.

best of luck and let us know how things go for you

regards

V

Redcase

thank you all,i will contact Student Advice Centre ,Citizens Advice Bureau and the disability and carers helplines. Will check back in when i make any progress.