Child care support- no eligibility for Scottish stipend post grad

dtbarton

We are a married couple with a 15th month old in childcare 4 days per week. I work 37 hours a week and my wife is a Masters / Post Grad student on a 3+1 stipend at Edinburgh University.

As her award is not payed monthly, she is not classed as working 16 hours per week, so we are not eligible for the child care component of tax credits. We have been advised that we would receive support from the local education authority. This would be the case in England where we could apply for support, however this is not the case in Scotland, where support is only offered to undergraduates.

Edinburgh university offers 6 bursaries per year to post grads, however we do not wish to apply for this as it is required by single parents studying.

Does anyone know of any way around this gap we have appeared to fall through? It appears that Scottish postgrad students are singled out within the UK.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

GlasweJen

If you're in need apply for the bursary. If you're not self fund. There is no way around it.

Indie_Kid

dtbarton wrote: »

As her award is not payed monthly, she is not classed as working 16 hours per week, so we are not eligible for the child care component of tax credits.

Students who just study aren't classed as working. Therefore, no entitlement to working benefits.