lone parent - income support and higher education

dollgerl

I am intending to go back September and do a higher national diploma, thing is I want to study whilst being on income support full time, I understand that I can, and would get a special support grant, I have been phoning student finance, and the college and they won't give me any information how I get around how my course will be funded, without affecting my income support claim, and housing benefit, how to fill in the student loans form online, and if there are any other pots of money that can help with childcare and extras for the course, I just feel I am knocking my head against the wall as people are just so tight with information. I know I am not meant to be carried but it just all seems so overwhelming and not very encouraging sometimes, any help would be appreciated.

missmontana

Have you thought about making an appointment to go in and see someone? At the college and at the Job Centre.

I've only done part time courses in the past but non of my benefits were affected as I didn't get a grant. Childcare was pretty much covered as my son was young enough to go in the creche at the college ( I just had to pay 20p a session! ) But I didn't get any help with travel costs or books etc.

kingfisherblue

I studied for my degree over a period of five years whilst on IS. The course was paid for and I received a mature students grant of £250 (to help pay towards books, childcare and travel expenses) each year, without it affecting my benefits.

Oldernotwiser

If you are a full time degree level student, most of your student finance will be treated as income and used to assess means tested benefits so you will no longer receive IS, although you may still get some LHA. This will happen even if you were to choose not to take out the student loan.

There is a lot of information on this on the Student Board here and your future college/university will also have full details. You should be slightly better off when studying but you do not receive the whole student funding package on top of your means tested benefits.