Please Help Parents Going to Uni!

JayLFC_2

Hi everyone,

We really hope someone can help!

Me and my partner are due to start university next week and are struggling to find a way to survive. We are currently chasing around the Child Tax Credits department as for some reason we are getting £14 pw for our little boy even though we have never been over paid. Our job seekers claim has now stopped because we are entering education. We get £20pw child benefit and our housing benefit is also due to stop. We are aware of the back log for student finance claims so have no idea when we will recieve that.

It looks like we are going to have to live on £34 per week until the student finance is paid, I know some people would say get a job but we have and still are trying, it's hard to manage uni (I have been on a fastrack course for the past 4 weeks) and a child. My partners train fare will cost more than what we will have per week and I am cycling 13 miles there and 13 miles back each day.

The uni says there is no financial support until we enrol but due to getting onto the course through a fastrack programme we can't enrol until the 28th. We have a gas and electricity meter and use public transport to get our son to school.

If anyone knows of any support we may be entitled to your help would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jay.

welshmoneylover

If things are this dire, why not postpone uni for 12 months or so? Then it will give you chance to get a job and save some money up.

Oldernotwiser

If you can't enrol until the 28th I would've thought that you should be staying on JSA and HB until that point.

Have you really left yourself in such a tight position that you have no money left before starting, particularly as you were aware of the backlog?

Becles

Have you looked at the Open Uni?

I'm doing a degree with them and I'm hoping to graduate in October 2010. It will have taken 4 years to do an honours degree with them and I've managed to work around 25 hours a week in self employment and look after my three children, plus the usual household chores while doing the study.

natnat37

Have you definitely applied for everything you are entitled to from Student Loans Company? You should both be able to get the max loan plus probably maintenance grant if you are on a low income, plus Parents Learning Allowance & Childcare Grant. Most universities offer bursaries as well if you are receiving a grant.

My partner has been unemployed since last December and is on JSA, and I am back at uni for my second year - those are the entitlements I have been assessed for.

Hope this helps.
Natalie