Does my son have to give up his college course & his university place

Jowo_2

He isn't throwing his future away by going to college and university because he is not entitled to benefits, he is investing in it...!

He will be able to get student loans, work part time during the term time evening and weekends, and full time during the holidays. This is how most students get by - a few might be handsomely funded by rich parents picking up the tab but most aren't. And that's how I got by - 5 years of study at no cost or impact to me or my family, other than access to jobs that most of my non-Uni peers could never get once i'd graduated.

Many Universities operate hardship funds and scholarships, too.

Generally, those with degrees tend to earn more than those that don't - he gets his return on investment there.

If he's worried about how to support himself, he could postpone his university place for a year in order to work and save up a nest-egg which will teach him budgeting. He could look into studying via the Open University or go for a part-time degree so he can learn and earn at the same time. By going to a Uni close to home, he saves thousands on accommodation fees for halls of residence. As it happens, I think a 3 year degree with working part-time on top is a good option anyhow.

Talk of having to give up studying in higher education and the need to avoid fraud is just over-panick on your behalf. Part of the squeeze in your household came from overpayments and social fund loans so isn't related to the withdrawal of child benefit, etc.

Oldernotwiser

Your son will finish his course in 2/3 months' time when he can claim JSA if he hasn't got a job,so there's a very short time to have to cope on this income, particularly as you'll be 20.00 per week better off in May.

I assume that he's claiming his 30.00 per week ALG so perhaps he needs to put this into the household pot for the next few weeksand you could also have a look at the Old Style board for ways you could live more frugally for the next couple of months.

lazer

I supporyed myself through university - that is the point in the student Loans

Your son will get a loan of £3,678 per year when at university,

And From July to September can be claiming JSA - as can be actively looking for work.

From your post i understand that your problem is however between now and May.

Perhaps you could apply for a crisis loan?

McKneff

You must be getting more than £81 a week for the 2 of you.

Do you get rent paid, council tax paid, housing benefit etc. etc, etc.

bestpud

Are you sure the child benefit will stop on his birthday? They have three cut off points and it will normally carry on until the next point, which is May now...

It may be different as he is 20 but check.

Also, if he isn't getting ALG then he should apply for it.

Your other option is to ask for the debt repayments to be reconsidered.

You are all adults so can live on cheap food for a while and he is old enough to understand the need to cut back on utilities etc.

To talk of him leaving his course rather than go a few months without is utter madness imo!

anastasia1

McKneff wrote: »

You must be getting more than £81 a week for the 2 of you.

Do you get rent paid, council tax paid, housing benefit etc. etc, etc.

It was £101 a week till they started deducting payments for an overpayment and a social fund loan my husband had in 2005. we get benefit for rent & council tax

Jowo_2

Is your son studying away from home or in his home town when he goes to University?

Does his college have a hardship fund?

kingfisherblue

My daughter is studying with the OU so that she doesn't have to borrow to fund her studies - I'm not in a position to support her. She is also working as a healthcare assistant while studying, and she pays me board as she lives at home.

Lots of healthcare assistant jobs tend to be available in many areas, as staff are often needed to get clients up and dressed, and get them into bed at night, but they don't always need help throughout the day time. This could fit in with your son's studies and earn him some cash as well. Once he has finished in May, he could fit this in with an additional job if he wanted to. The biggest problem would be getting the CRB check, which could take a few weeks - but it's still an option open to him. He really needs to be thinking about contributing to the family pot.

AnxiousMum

Depending on which university your son goes to - there may be bursaries available also to him as he's from a low income household. For student loans, he should get maximum amount of about £4700 I think it is, also because parents from low income households are not expected to contribute towards it. About £1500 of that will be in the form of a maintenance grant, and non repayable.

As for right now - as said above, he should be getting the ALG grant which would help with his transport costs etc. to and from college, and he should also go and speak with the finance office at school to see if there is any help available to him.

In terms of jobs - someone up above asked if your son had gone into every pub, bar, restaurant, cafe in the area looking for work - have you done the same thing? I know in our area, if I was really desperately looking for work, there is ALWAYS a huge number of jobs for cleaning staff and care staff - if it came down to cleaning toilets for someone or my son having to quit school - you'd find me with my gloves on scrubbing a toilet!

KatieMc83_2

anastasia1 wrote: »

Was more hoping to find out something I didn't already know like a way my son can avoid throwing his future away so he can claim benefits or resort to some kind of fraud

Why doesn't he do what many students do and try and get a job? He should get full grants etc anyway with you and your hubby being on benefits as they take into consideration parents earnings.

My brother and I got minimum help because of our step-fathers earnings (even though he didn't give us any help himself) and we got through it. My brother worked 30 hours a week in a city centre store and I supplemented my income by working as a care assistant doing around 24 hours a week mainly at weekends. Most of my friends worked too.

It's hard but certainly do-able!!