Housing benefit and student childcare costs query

tracyh_3

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone out there could give me some advice as to what my entitlement is... The benefits officers at my council continually fail to reply to my specific questions and I am in a situation that to me seems totally unfair.. I'll explain.

4 years ago I split from my husband and was at the time working full time in IT whilst caring for my son who is now 7. These were not totally compatible so I decided to rethink my career and gave up a hefty wage to go to uni full time and study psychology which would leave me the holidays to be with my son and to enable a more fulfilling career. I had no assets and in fact 'inherited' half my ex's debts. I survived mainly on a student loan and a student grant which included a childcare element (around 85% of actual costs paid out). The housing benefits people included this in my 'income' along with the child benefit, tax credits and my £30 weekly maintenance for my son.

I completed my degree this summer and was awarded a place on the Occupational therapy course which is funded by the NHS and I was awarded a bursary, again to include a childcare element (this still leaves me £400 a year short on childcare costs though...).

My question/query is twofold...

1. Is it right that they count the student loan as an income as I have to pay it back eventually? I was told that if I got a loan from a bank that that would not be classed as income!

2. This is my main concern really, they count the childcare element of my bursary (it is clearly seperated out into basic award, childcare allowance, older students allowance and dependants allowance) as income and yet do not take into account that I am paying out more than that to a registered child minder! Is this right or should I be entitled to some of it back?

I hope someone can give me some advice as I really would be much better off financially 'sitting on my !!!! all day' than trying to do something productive and I am living on the edge worrying about basics such as food and electricity!

many thanks

Tracy

november

Hi Tracy

Not sure about the childcare element as I can't remember but I know the answer to this one from years ago when I was a single parent mature student.

tracyh wrote:

1. Is it right that they count the student loan as an income as I have to pay it back eventually? I was told that if I got a loan from a bank that that would not be classed as income!

Yes they count your student loan as income. What is more when I was a student I was told I would have to take one out as they would take it as income regardless as I was entitled to one.

Sorry I can't answer your main concern. I did have a benefits book knocking about but I've put it back in the office at work.

Good luck. I do remember when I was a student it was a very difficult time financially and I would have been better off on benefits. However I don't regret it as it did enable me to get off benefits and earn a living wage eventually.

WhatKatyDid_2

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm not sure on the childcare aspect, but if you receive "parent's learning allowance" which is about £1400 a year, that is disregarded by the benefits office (well, should be...). Also I believe (but would have to double-check rules & regs) part of either the loan or basic grant should be deducted to allow for course costs; I'm fairly sure not all of that should be taken into account. (this is from a current single parent student who has done a lot of reading into what I can/cannot get!!) Do your uni do any additional bursaries or scholarships that you can apply for? What about Access to Learning funds - probably through your student union office?

And I could never see the logic of them saying the loan is income, when you have to pay it back!! (to me it was like losing the money twice).

Good luck!
Katy

Fran

***Boardguide comment***

Hi tracy, I've moved your thread to the "Student" board where you might get some more ideas.

Crispy_Ambulance

Yes, your loan is counted as income. Your childcare grant should not be though and you can apply to the Access to Learning Fund to top it up. Best thing for you to do is to speak to your students union advice centre as they will know more about any other funding available at your uni and can make sure your benefits have been calculated correctly.

tracyh_3

thanks everyone for the advice, the daft thing is when I spoke to the housing benefit advisor I was told that they would also count any assistance from the uni (ALF) as income too! arghhh...