Summer vacation from degree and lone parent

littlebananafeet

Hello there, I am wondering if someone can help?

I am studying a full time degree at University and I am a lone parent of a child who will be aged 11 in July. I receive no maintenence from my child's Father because he doesn't work.

I receive student finance but because my degree is 45 weeks per year, I was (last year) able to claim income support for the remaining 7 weeks of the year during the summer.

I know the rules for income support have changed but I am still a little confused. Job centre plus says that if you have a child aged over 10 and you are claiming income support because you are a lone parent only, then you now have to claim job seekers allowance.

But, I am a lone parent but I am also a full time student without enough money to live on over the summer.

Do they class me as claiming it because I am one parent only ? or will they take into consideration that I am also a student.

My question is, with these new rules, does this mean that I will not be able to claim income support ? I know I meet the criteria for job seekers allowance also but my worry with this is I struggle for child care as my child will be off school in the 6 week holidays..

I only need help for the 7 weeks..

Can anybody advise ?
Thanks ever so much.

nannytone_2

as far as I'm aware, any student finances (loans, grants, bursarys) are intended to cover the whole 52 week period and not just for the weeks that you are actively studying. The exception is the last year (when grants are lower) as the course will end earlier in the year.

CIS

as far as I'm aware, any student finances (loans, grants, bursarys) are intended to cover the whole 52 week period and not just for the weeks that you are actively studying. The exception is the last year (when grants are lower) as the course will end earlier in the year.

Most courses wont pay for the full year (usually between 30 and 45weeks of loans are paid), the exceptions are usually medical courses and nursing courses where the NHS often pays the grants for 52 weeks.

For example
UWE

For 2009/10, the basic bursary is £2,810 with an additional £82 per week for courses of more than 30 weeks per year. The maximum bursary available for courses over 45 weeks is £4,614.

littlebananafeet

Thanks Nannytone, the job centre confirmed last year that I was entitled to claim income support for the summer period which I did do so CIS is correct as below,(thanks CIS). However Im still unsure
if i get income support this year or job seekers. Either way I suppose I'll find out next week when I am eligible to claim from.

Thanks for your input both of you and your time

designerggirl

littlebananafeet wrote: »

Thanks Nannytone, the job centre confirmed last year that I was entitled to claim income support for the summer period which I did do so CIS is correct as below,(thanks CIS). However Im still unsure
if i get income support this year or job seekers. Either way I suppose I'll find out next week when I am eligible to claim from.

Thanks for your input both of you and your time

Hi littlebanana,
I am in that same position and they told me that i'm not entitled to claim Jobseekers Allowance. However, i went to the CAB today and they told me tht i should get it. So i'm in a pickle right now. Would appreciate if you could let me know the outcome of your situation. Thanks