Would i get help?

kels182

Hiya,

I am currently a working single mum and would really like to go back to college, im not exactly sure what im entitled to and don't know how income support works, would i be allowed to quit work to go back to full time education? If so how does income support work, how much? At the moment by wages only just cover my bills, would income support cover council tax, tv liscence etc.
I did think of a part time job while studying but i would never get to see my son and would find it very hard to take care of him, run a home, study and work.

I would appreciate any help
Thankyou xx

karenx

Income support is £64 per week, if there is loans and grants available from the college then take them because even if you dont you are still classed as having them for housing benefit purposes. All income is taken into account.
What you spend your money on is up to you, you may still get help with council tax but not your tv licence paid for. This is a luxury for which if you want it you pay for it youself.
You would have to also look into childcare from the college if they offer it or help to pay for it, you wont get the childcare element from tax credits with not working

bubblegumcola

Do you have any career advice places nearby you can ask? I don't know where you are but in Scotland there is Careers Scotland and the advisors are very helpful, they can find out what you are and aren't entitled to if you want to go back to education. They know all the grants, etc that you can get depending on your situation. I'm sure there must be similar in England/Wales.
ttp://www.careers-scotland.org.uk/home/home.asp

bestpud

How old are your children and what are you planning to study?

The first is relevent for IS and the second for any funding that may be available.

Also, do you pay rent, or have a mortgage?

kels182

Thanks for replying,
I have one son who has just turned 3, i want to do an access course to higher education first, then that will open up my options, would like to possibly go on to do teaching or child psycology.
I have phoned the local college to get a careers meeting, just waiting for a reply.

kels182

I pay weekly rent

bestpud

Ok, for the access course, I think you can claim IS and Housing Benefit as your son is under 7 years old. That's how it was when I did mine in 2003-5 anyway as there were a few lone parents on the course - someone else will know for sure...

You shouldn't need to pay tuition fees if this will be your first level three qualification.

You won't be penalised for giving up work as you have a young child.

When you get to university, you will need to claim student finance instead but it's actually quite generous for lone parents and you shouldn't be any worse off than you would be on benefits.

You will need to get some experience of working with children if you want to go into teaching, and if you go for a full time access course, you will be applying within a month or two of starting the course, so you really need to think about your options now.

It may be beneficial to try and get some impartial careers advice as well...

You don't need experience to do a psychology degree but it can be difficult to get on a PGCE course with a psychology degree so you'd need to think about that if you think you may want to take that route.

Child psychology will involve a lot of post grad commitment and study.

As for IS paying the bills - you would receive (roughly):

£64 per week IS
£50 per week CTC
£20 per week Child Benefit
The first £20 of any child maintenance you receive

Your rent and council tax would be paid and you'd be exempt from NHS charges.

Indie_Kid

bestpud wrote: »

You shouldn't need to pay tuition fees if this will be your first level three qualification.

But you may need to pay something called material fees.

bestpud

sh1305 wrote: »

But you may need to pay something called material fees.

Yes, possibly - good point.

We didn't when I did my course, but people did have to pay to sit GCSEs if they needed them.

kels182

Thanks so much for your help, what are material fees? is that exam and books etc.
It doesn't seem right, i would be much better off quitting work? here i am struggling to afford things, working my tired behind off, giving up prescious time with my little boy, Paying ridicoulous amounts of child care fees (close to the amount i earn a month) crazy!
Would you advise before starting the course to apply for IS maybe a month prior. How would i go about this, do i go into a job centre or can i apply online? Will they want a reason wy i have quit work, and if so would they say i have to quit work just before i start the course?

karenx

Were you not getting the childcare element of tax credits? That would of paid 80% of your childcare for you.
Yes apply for income support if you are not working, you need to call up and the call will take about 45mins and they will go through everything with you. Previous job details, your child benefit number, rent details, are you owed any money- ie last wage etc.
Then they will make an appointment for you to go in and check over the forms and sign them so you are confirming everything on the forms is correct, and they will check your ID

And no the reason that you work is to provide for you and your child and not the government. Sometimes your better off and sometimes you arent, but surly the independance is better for you and the time to work on your career etc and try make something of your life.
And yes I have been there before as a single parent on IS and I 100% prefer working. Once working I got time to myself, managed to have adult conversations for a change, meet new people and also know that the money that went into my bank was money I had earned!! When on IS I rarly bought anything other than food, petrol etc, but with my wages I was happy to buy new clothes etc etc!