29 and starting college with a 2 yr old to take care of

Lady_gaga

there's no shame in asking for help if you need it, that's what the system is there for.
A year isn't that long in the grand scale of things and in reality it won't even be a full 12 months as I assume you start in September and end in May/June?
Perhaps the sensible thing to to would be stay at Mum and Dads for the extra support whilst your studying then once you're earning a better wage look for somewhere on your own.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do, it says a lot that your at least working for a living and trying to make a better life for you and your child,

all the best x

dmg24

jules2244 wrote: »

I don't need to be earning actually, because I could get my rent paid being a single parent. I am just trying to do my best by my child, im not trying to 'have it all' straight away. I have been in employment for 13 years yet now that I am a single mum not getting a penny from anywhere else, (i.e. the child's father) i am trying to do the best financially for me and my child and to actually be able to support us both without having to rely on anyone else. I am doing an ILEX level 3 Legal Secretary course which lasts one year. At the end of this year, I would have increased my earning potential by almost double. I may then go on to do higher education, I dont know. I am trying to work out how I can get on best in life. That is why I came onto this forum.

Unless you are earning below minimum wage, a legal secretarial course will not double your earning potential. Whilst it is a positive step, I would be more realistic in your expectations.

nannytone_2

how would you lose £400 a month? you would still be entitled the the benefits you get now (ctc, cb.is)

loulou123

dmg24 wrote: »

Unless you are earning below minimum wage, a legal secretarial course will not double your earning potential. Whilst it is a positive step, I would be more realistic in your expectations.

As a former legal secretary, i have to agree with this, sure its a job that doesnt pay badly, but cant imagine many places paying over £12.00 per hour (which would be just over double minimum wage.)

Are you currently employed as a legal secretary and just want this qualification to be "properly" qualified? Or would it be a whole new carer? As even with the qualification the majority of companies will take experiance over qualifications - or thats what i found anyway.

Jowo_2

jules2244 wrote: »

...

I was just trying to see exactly what help was available to me because i would lose about £400 per month. ...

Try not to see it in those terms but as a short-term dip that will lead to a better return on its investment by way of increased earning potential.

You said earlier that you could move into independent accommodation and get your rent paid through LHA but you would need to factor in higher household bills that comes from running self-contained accommodation.

Also, in terms of timing, now might be a good time to get into education since single parents are now switched off income support and onto JSA when their child reaches primary school age instead of 7 (used to be 12 or 14, I forget now).

There are sometimes grants, loans and scholarships available to people on low income or on benefits, for particular types of courses or geographical areas which you can find on the internet or your librarian will be able to point out the directory that contains the list of grant givers and the qualifying criteria.

good luck.

jules2244

dmg24 wrote: »

Unless you are earning below minimum wage, a legal secretarial course will not double your earning potential. Whilst it is a positive step, I would be more realistic in your expectations.

I have researched my potential career path extensively and this is definately the course to go for me.....when the ilex course is completed there is always scope for improvement and further learning and possibly doing further law courses. This is not a decision I have taken lightly. the top end of my current pay scale is 12 grand pro rata that would never ever keep my son and i, and because i only have basic qualifications at present i could never earn more than that unless i do the legal sec course. legal sec jobs start at 15/16k in liverpool with higher wages up to 22 grand for those with experience but i would have to work my way up from somewhere, right? im a very determined person....

honeydukes

I think you need to go and speak to some organisation like the Citizens Advice. They should know all about benefits and what you'd be entitled to. Also talk to the advice centre in your prospective college, again they will know what grants/bursaries are available for the course you want to do.
It's a very complicated thing juggling multiple income streams and if my experience is anything to go by you need to speak to someone face to face who knows the ins and outs.
What I do know is that you must speak to CAB or a similar welfare rights org before you bank on any benefits if you're leaving work to do the course. If you have been unemployed for 6 months then there is loads of help for single parents but before that there's very little- fair or not.

I tried to get information like this too, but the best you could do is sit down with a proper advisor where you can put all your details on the table.

As for being independent- I get it, really I do, but unless living with your parents is a nightmare then you could be cutting off your nose to spite your face by moving out.

All the best to you though, it will be tough- studying with a bub in the house isn't easy, but it does help you focus when you get the chance!

jules2244

honeydukes wrote: »

I think you need to go and speak to some organisation like the Citizens Advice. They should know all about benefits and what you'd be entitled to. Also talk to the advice centre in your prospective college, again they will know what grants/bursaries are available for the course you want to do.
It's a very complicated thing juggling multiple income streams and if my experience is anything to go by you need to speak to someone face to face who knows the ins and outs.
What I do know is that you must speak to CAB or a similar welfare rights org before you bank on any benefits if you're leaving work to do the course. If you have been unemployed for 6 months then there is loads of help for single parents but before that there's very little- fair or not.

I tried to get information like this too, but the best you could do is sit down with a proper advisor where you can put all your details on the table.

As for being independent- I get it, really I do, but unless living with your parents is a nightmare then you could be cutting off your nose to spite your face by moving out.

All the best to you though, it will be tough- studying with a bub in the house isn't easy, but it does help you focus when you get the chance!

thanks for your advice i appreciate it its just so hard trying to work everything out. i did speakto the jobcentre today and they said i would get financial help from the college for childcare and also i will get child tax credit and CHB aswell as income support because im a lone parent. just finding decision making really hard at the moment. dont know what to do.

bestpud

I would ask the college direct about childcare help before you rely on it as it's not that common these days.

I think childcare may be your biggest issue tbh - if you can get help with it then why not stay with your parents for now and reassess next year?

That way you have a reasonable income and some support with childcare (I presume).

PasturesNew

Legal secretaries, with ILEX and experience, can get about £7.20-£8/hour, or £7.20-£7.50 in the capital city of my county. I have just googled this information to get these two rates for the two vacancies that exist right now.

Are you sure it'd be double?