OU and Maternity Pay?

melsie_2

Will I get any help with my funding next year while I'm on maternity leave?

Between April 2011 and April 2012 I will only be earning £7500 and my partner £14,000.

I've emailed the OU but their answer didn't really make sense.

Thanks

Oldernotwiser

Could you post the OU's answer?

melsie_2

Your eligibility for a financial award is based on your financial circumstances at the time you apply for financial support. If you wish to register for a course beginning in February 2010, the final date for submitting your registration documents and financial support application is the 22nd December 2010. Unfortunately it is not possible to apply for financial support retrospectively once your course has started.

Please test your eligibility by using our financial calculator at:
http://css2.open.ac.uk/fafcalculator/eligibility.aspx

Please note:
Financial awards are limited in the first year of study to cover a maximum of 60 points of study and an associated residential school, if your course has one. Students who intend to study an Openings course prior to studying a 60 point undergraduate course, or S154 before studying S104, may also exceed this 60 point limit.

Financial awards for all students taking the following high cost courses: Law courses (except W100), Certificate in Management or Certificate in Accounting, will be limited to a maximum of 60 points of study per year.

If you are not eligible for a financial award you could be eligible for an ILA Learner account. For more information go to:
http://www.ilascotland.org.uk/ILA+Homepage.htm

There are no financial awards for Postgraduate Courses.

laurel7172

I'd take that as a no.

The cut off date for financial assistance is 22 December, and you have to be eligible for financial assistance on 22 December.

If your circumstances change during a course, it seems that's just bad luck.

Sorry.

tripled

As I understand it they make decisions based on the previous tax year, so they will use your 2011/2012 income for assessments between April 2012 and April 2013.

melsie_2

So in April 2013 then they'd take into account my lower earnings from the previous year?