Student loan and benefits.

smithyjules

elisebutt65 wrote: »

I was (still am) a single mum, exH had just let and I decided to go to Uni rather than sit on benefits and I used to get a little peeved that they classed my 'loan' as income. However I did get rather a large amount of maintenance grant - that they don't count - childcare grant etc.

You can claim IS or jobseekers during the long summer break and also get HB and CTB then as well, if that helps?

On the other hand I would re-consider doing the degree until the kids are older - I was blooming knackered racing around after kids, trying to fit in essays - it would have been easier for me to get a job and do the degree now that they are older:o. PLus it took me 5 years to get my degree and teaching qualification and I still end up on £10300 a year:rotfl:

I should just go back into working in HR - I was on about £6000 more unqualified 6 years ago

Elise - Well done you!It is hard going juggling it all, and we have two parents here so I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you. Regardless of your new salary, I hope you enjoy your job and get a huge amount of satisfaction from it.

elisebutt65

smithyjules wrote: »

Elise - Well done you!It is hard going juggling it all, and we have two parents here so I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you. Regardless of your new salary, I hope you enjoy your job and get a huge amount of satisfaction from it.

The salary is the ONLY downside to the job. I've been made year tutor for my year 1 and 2's now- paperwork is unbelievable, but it means I get a much closer bond with my students all the way through college. Plus I also teach GCSE & A levels as well as BTEC now so I get a different mix. My GCSE students are like puppies, A levels like owls, and there are not enough words to describe my Event Management students!!

Going on strike tomorrow cos of the pay & pensions dispute, but I'll actually miss being at work! I could never say that when I worked in an office at the council. Lol

rozmister

Your partner CHOOSE to go to university, choice is the operative word here. She CHOOSE not to seek full time employment and that's why you don't get benefits. You haven't paid back the loan already if you were on benefits they would be temporary while you seeked work unless you had a child under 7 in which case you would be on IS until they turned 7 and then JSA (or at least you would under the new guidelines ConDem have brought in). The idea of those benefits are to be a stop gap until you get employment not your income forever, you should pay back your student loan out of the income you earn on graduation like everyone else.

Why should young students have to pay back their loans from the income they earn on graduation but students with families not? Only that's what you're proposing saying that if your benefits are replaced by loan you end up paying twice. You don't. You just end up having to pay that money back eventually when you earn enough like everyone else. If the system allowed you to keep full benefits and receive a loan it would be unfair on students who didn't qualify for benefits and if the system allowed you to claim benefits to study instead of a loan because you have a family that would also be unfair on the other students without that option.

If you don't like the system why doesn't your partner quit uni and go back onto benefits? Or do you want all the end benefits of a degree but without paying for it like everyone else??

viktory

I note the OP has legged it.