Student benefits with wife and 3 kids.

Evie82

I am posting on my wifes profile as she is a member, hope thats ok with you lot.

I am hoping to become a full time student in September with the OU, basically my work has dried up from being full time to just part time and its not looking like it will increase. I am hoping to do a full time uni course with OU to retrain for a new career.

Currently I get my wage plus working tax credits and child tax credits for our 3 children. We are also currently getting some help with rent and CTax as my wages are so low.

If in September I am accepted on to the courses of choice, I will be studying full time and giving up work for 2 years to complete the degree. However I cannot find information anywhere as to what help we may be entitled too during that time.
My wife will be caring for our children full time, the youngest is only a few months old, so she wont be able to work either.

I understand I will probably get all the OU fees paid but i guess WFTC will stop and my wage will obviously stop too. I need to know what help we may be entitled to before I make the leap to commit to this degree. Will the fact I am studying with OU rather than at a University make any difference?

Is anyone in a similar place right now and could give some help on what we would get please?

karenx

Your working tax credits will stop. So you will just get child tax credit and child benefit. You may possibly get a little more child tax credits but not much
you may qualify for full housing benefit also

Oldernotwiser

You can't get any maintenance funding for studying with the OU because all OU study is by definition part time. However, if you went to a "bricks and mortar" university you'd be eligible for maintenance loans and grants as well as various extra allowances.

Are you carrying over any credits from previous study as you wouldn't be able to complete a degree in 2 years normally.

dmg24

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you carrying over any credits from previous study as you wouldn't be able to complete a degree in 2 years normally.

Plus the OU are unlikely to fund 180 credits per year.

Evie82

Many thanks for your posts. I do have 180 credits with OU already yes.

Oldernotwiser

Evie82 wrote: »

Many thanks for your posts. I do have 180 credits with OU already yes.

That's good but if you've only got another 180 to go, why do you have to give up work for 2 years? Can't you do 60 credits next year whilst working part time and then take just a year off to do the final 120?

If you're doing a minimum of 16 hours you can still WTC as well as your wage, otherwise you'll only have CTC/CB to live on for 2 years. Is that doable?

Becles

I'm in my 4th year with the OU and hope to complete my degree by October this year. I've been doing 90 points a year.

I'm self employed part time and also Mam to three children. The youngest was born during the degree and I didn't take any time off study!

I'm not saying it has been an easy ride, but it is possible to work and study. At least you have your wife at home full time which will make it a bit easier. My husband works full time, so I still have to juggle all the housework and stuff too.

heretolearn_2

The OU IS a university (but I know what you mean).

As well as course funding, they do provide study grants, (not loans) but these are quite small. I got £250 last year.

Here is a link to the OU funding eligibility checker:
http://css2.open.ac.uk/fafcalculator/eligibility.aspx

Other than that, the WTC will finish unless you can find a part-time job with enough hours.