single parent leaving work to go to uni - benefits while studying

crispeater

hi,

I hope someone can help me but i'm thinking of leaving work next year to start a fulltime uni course. i'm currently doing my level 2 in adult literacy and numeracy with learn direct and have registered to start an open university course in february which will then give me the right qualifications and credits for the course i want.
my question is, what benefits will i be able to claim while studying? i know i will get my child benefit and child tax credit but because i will not be working the working tax element would go. i presume i will be able to claim housing and council tax benefit?

any info and help is much appreciated

many thanks

MrsManda

You will not have to pay council tax as a student but don't think you get housing benefit, You will get grants and loans.
You can use the Student Finance calculator HERE
to estimate what you will recieve and may also get a Childcare grant, Child tax credit and Parents Learning Allowance

Oldernotwiser

Your Student Loan will be used to assess your eligibility for IS and HB; if your housing costs are high you may well get at least part of it paid for. The Special Support Grant isn't used to assess means tested benefits, I believe.

[Deleted User]

Do you still get the usual student support if you're studying OU?

SL x

Oldernotwiser

Sallylizzie wrote: »

Do you still get the usual student support if you're studying OU?

SL x

You get the usual student support for a part time student ie. fee grant if your household income is below a certain level plus course grant of about £250.

You can't get support for full time studies as the OU only offers part time courses (regardless of the number of credits you study). Part time students are expected to be supporting themselves by employment or benefits, which is why there is no maintenance funding available.

babychick

You can apply for housing benefit if you are a full-time student with dependents under 16. They do take into account all of your income though so you may need to do some calculations to see if you'd be eligible before you count on it. :rolleyes:

crispeater

thats good to know.. they are definately under 16 and my only income would be my child tax credit and child benefit, as i wont be able to keep my job. study full time and look after my delights lol

Indie_Kid

You'll receive stuff froms tudent finance too. Just a warning - if you are entitled to a loan but don't take it out, it's still counted as income. There's a certain amount of money ignored for things like travel and books. And there are some loans/grants that aren't taken into consideration when assessing one's entitlement to benefits.

Oldernotwiser

crispeater wrote: »

thats good to know.. they are definately under 16 and my only income would be my child tax credit and child benefit, as i wont be able to keep my job. study full time and look after my delights lol

Sorry, but the income used to assess this will include your student loan so this might take you over the limit for full help with housing costs.

crispeater

sh1305 wrote: »

. Just a warning - if you are entitled to a loan but don't take it out, it's still counted as income. .

so this leaves you no choice but to take the loan out then really?

child tax credit and child benefit dont even come close to paying my rent. housing also have to allow you so much to live with 2 dependants. even if they pay something towards it, it's a help

Oldernotwiser

crispeater wrote: »

so this leaves you no choice but to take the loan out then really?

Basically, yes. You can't claim when you have other money available to you and you refuse it. (Or rather, you can claim but it will still be taken into account.)