I am 9 weeks pregnant and on my first year at university

Gaby_poma

Hello, i am study my first year at uni (TVU), in London and i just found out i am pregnant (9weeks).. the course i am doing is for 4 years, including 1 year of work placement, so i don't know what to do..
I don't want to leave uni or have a year gap and I don't want to give the baby up, so i want to keep the baby.. Please can you give some advice on what to do.. i want to do both of them but i know its going to be very hard..
I also want to know what benefits i am entitled for... i am living with my mother in a 3 bedroom flat, so i was wounding if i move out would this affect my mum and sister (8y), like would she need to move to a smallest place.. Is there a way that we can move to a 4 bedroom flat or house..
Please give me some advices on my situation..
Thank you

Indie_Kid

Can you go part time? What about the father - where's he?

silvercar

A quick calculation and the baby is due mid June. When are you end of year exams? Will you be upto revision and taking exams in a late stage of pregnancy?

Does your mum want the four of you sharing a home, or is it time for you to find a place of your own?

Is your mum's tenancy a private rental or local authority housing?

Most local authorities won't give full allowance for a room for a baby until they are a year old.

dmg24

From what you have said, I am guessing you are in social housing. The chances of you getting a four bed in London are about zero. If you are asking about private rentals, given the LHA caps they are bringing in, it would be very silly to move to a more expensive property.

Your baby is due around June. How do you expect to sit your exams whilst in the final stages of pregnancy (or indeed, due to give birth)?

I think you need to be more realistic.

Indie_Kid

Not all unis have exams for first years - I didn't.

lindseykim13

congrats and don't fret you have plenty of time to get your head around things. Take one thing at a time and it will all fall in place somehow.
Would your mum be happy to look after the baby while your at uni? You could possibly take a year out or get some flexibility from the uni. You won't be the first this has happened to.
There is no reason why you can't do both. I have a friend with 2 kids and she's at uni.

Kimitatsu

Why do you need to move out? If you are moving in with the partner of your baby thats ok, but if you are just planning to move out then I would think long and hard about it. The birth of a baby is just when you will need the support of your family if you plan to keep on studying.

As a full time student you will not be entitled to IS or JSA, but you will be entitled to child tax credits when the baby is born (which will covewr up to 70% of the chidcare costs provided it is with an ofsted registered provider) and child maintenance from the childs father if you are not together.

Some universities have hardship funds to help out in cases of severe financial need, but it will be really hard whatever. Had you thought of transferring to the OU and getting credits for the year you will have done? That will enable you to work at your own pace.

Oldernotwiser

Kimitatsu wrote: »

Why do you need to move out? If you are moving in with the partner of your baby thats ok, but if you are just planning to move out then I would think long and hard about it. The birth of a baby is just when you will need the support of your family if you plan to keep on studying.

As a full time student you will not be entitled to IS or JSA, but you will be entitled to child tax credits when the baby is born (which will covewr up to 70% of the chidcare costs provided it is with an ofsted registered provider) and child maintenance from the childs father if you are not together.

Some universities have hardship funds to help out in cases of severe financial need, but it will be really hard whatever. Had you thought of transferring to the OU and getting credits for the year you will have done? That will enable you to work at your own pace.

The OP will also be eligible for the Parental Learning Allowance and the Childcare Grant after the baby is born.

Indie_Kid

Kimitatsu wrote: »

but you will be entitled to child tax credits when the baby is born (which will covewr up to 70% of the chidcare costs provided it is with an ofsted registered provider)

The OP would have to work the required 16 hours to get the child care element. The childcare grant pays a bigger percentage. (85%, I think)

You can't claim the childcare grant and the childcare element of tax credits.

Tulip09

When i was at Uni with 3 children they really helped me out financially. Speak to your advisors and see whats out there. I managed to get my kids in uni childcare at a reduced rate, help collecting & applying for benefits and put in touch with a few charity organisations that also helped me out. Dont get me wrong though it is really hard to study and be a lone parent, you will need support. Good luck with study & pregnancy.

dmg24

Becles wrote: »

It's possible to do. I was with the OU when I was pregnant. The plan was I'd finish my ECA (big examinable assignment) which was due 4 weeks before my daughter was born, and make a headstart on the next module which had the first assignment due around my due date.

I had a horrible pregnancy with complications and my plan went out of the window! I realised I was in slow labour and the ECA date was looming and I wrote half of it between contractions! Went to hospital and had my daughter and had to stay in a couple of days due to problems with me and her being 4 weeks premature. Came home and got straight on with the ECA and managed to get it in the post and to the OU right on deadline day.

Then had to go straight into the next module and managed to stay on track with that despite juggling everything with a newborn plus the usual household chores and looking after my other two children.

It was incredibly hard and I was shattered, but it is do-able if you are willing to put the effort in.

Whilst an assignment can be fitted around other things, an exam cannot! Plus you have a partner, the OP does not appear to.