Benefits while in Full-Time study?

minniepoos_2

Hi all,

I'm going to go into the jobcentre today to ask about this, but they'll just give me an appointment - probably next week now - so if anyone has any experience of this I'd be really grateful.

I'm currently unemployed - my temp contract ran out at the end of June, and I'm job hunting. I've been thinking a lot about going to uni though, to do the degree I've always wanted to do and always regretted not doing.

The basics - I'm single (married but hoping to divorce this year), and I live with my daughter in private rented accommodation £550 per month. I receive housing benefit of about £506 per month. I get JSA but about £56 per week, and I get tax credits of £62 per week.

I need to know (or at least have a vague idea of) what benefits I will still be entitled to if I enrol on a full-time 3 yr course. I assume my housing benefit will take into account whatever uni funding I get, and I imagine that JSA will stop as I'll no longer be looking for work. Will I be able to claim Income Support? And what happens to my tax credits?

There's such a lot to think about - and work out, but as I'm not contracted anywhere right now, it feels like I might finally have the opportunity to do what I've always wanted to. I need to know I can support myself and my daughter for the duration though, as well as have enough to make the payments on my debts too.

Sorry - I know this is a bit of a ramble, but there's so much going through my head - I think I got it all out, but not sure if I got it in the right order!

Any help would be very much appreciated,

MP

nannytone_2

you would have your student loans/maintenance grant, child tax credits and exemption from council tax.
not too sure about housing benefit, as you have a child, but students cant usually claim housing benefit.

KEA

You would lose income support throughout September through to the following July when they assume your student finance stops supporting you. Housing benefit would also take your finance into consideration but you'd still get council tax benefit. Tax credits would be unaffected.
If you are not working then you'd receive around £8800 in student loans and grants and you'd receive a loan that would pay for your course fees, I am assuming though that you'd be doing a degree. You'd also be entitled to help towards childcare at a maximum of 85%, you'd have to make up the rest out of your loans etc.

TBH you'd be better off doing a degree than being on benefits, I know I have been the past couple of years as a single parent.

System

KEA wrote: »

You would lose income support throughout September through to the following July when they assume your student finance stops supporting you.

I understood that except for the final year, student finance covers you for the full year Sept to the following Sept when the next year's finance kicks in. This is what prevents students claiming benefits in the summer breaks

nannytone_2

!!!!!! wrote: »

I understood that except for the final year, student finance covers you for the full year Sept to the following Sept when the next year's finance kicks in. This is what prevents students claiming benefits in the summer breaks

it's different for singlae parents. theyre allowed to claim during the summer holidays

MrsManda

You can fill out the student finance calculator here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm
to see what you'll get in terms of student finance.

On top of the usual tuition fee loan and maintanence loan, you should also receive a special support grant, parent learning allowance and a childcare grant.

You may be able to receive Income Support and Housing Benefit, and child tax benefit, you won't need to pay council tax as a student.
If you are available for work over the summer holiday you should be able to claim JSA.
The maintanence loan and any bursary from your university will count as income when claiming income based benefits but the SSG, PLA and Childcare grant are not counted.

So, as KEA said, in terms of finance you should be fine. However if you've not applied for university yet, it's unlikely you'll get a place to start in September. Do you have the entry qualifications for the degree you want to do or will you need to do a foundation degree or access course?

minniepoos_2

Thanks all of you so much for your information, it's been very helpful.

I forgot to say, I already have 170 points from studying with the OU towards the degree I want (I need 360), so I will be speaking to the university about the possibility of going straight into the 2nd year. I've been speaking to the OU today about doing one more course this year, which should bring me well up to speed in terms of entry requirements.

Ideally I wanted to start this year, but of course - practically no chance of getting a place now, so next year would be fine.

But then again, if I do one more course with the OU it leaves me with only 2 more years of study with them before I complete the degree. So maybe I should just do that. So much to think about! I only plan to be working part-time, so can fit in OU study. I feel after the gap I've had though (not studied for 3 years), it would be better to go to uni and do it full-time to take advantage of the extra hours, and tutor availability. Plus being able to discuss what I'm working on with other students would be a definite plus.

Will mull it all over for a bit longer I think.

Thanks all,

MP

MrsManda

minniepoos wrote: »

Ideally I wanted to start this year, but of course - practically no chance of getting a place now, so next year would be fine.

But then again, if I do one more course with the OU it leaves me with only 2 more years of study with them before I complete the degree. So maybe I should just do that. So much to think about! I only plan to be working part-time, so can fit in OU study. I feel after the gap I've had though (not studied for 3 years), it would be better to go to uni and do it full-time to take advantage of the extra hours, and tutor availability. Plus being able to discuss what I'm working on with other students would be a definite plus.

Contact the admissions tutors for the course you want to study at the universities you want to apply to ASAP. If they are happy that you have the requirements to enter their course straight into the 2nd year they may be able to give you a place starting in September.
If they say that they won't allow you to use your OU points (many courses don't - I know my old course wouldn't allow credit transfers from any university) you can discuss whether they'd let you into the 1st year, or what else you'd need to do in order to improve your chances of getting a place on the course next year.

Once you've spoken to the tutors you'll be more certain of your options which will hopefully allow you to make a clearer decision

Oldernotwiser

minniepoos wrote: »

Thanks all of you so much for your information, it's been very helpful.

I forgot to say, I already have 170 points from studying with the OU towards the degree I want (I need 360), so I will be speaking to the university about the possibility of going straight into the 2nd year. I've been speaking to the OU today about doing one more course this year, which should bring me well up to speed in terms of entry requirements.

Ideally I wanted to start this year, but of course - practically no chance of getting a place now, so next year would be fine.

But then again, if I do one more course with the OU it leaves me with only 2 more years of study with them before I complete the degree. So maybe I should just do that. So much to think about! I only plan to be working part-time, so can fit in OU study. I feel after the gap I've had though (not studied for 3 years), it would be better to go to uni and do it full-time to take advantage of the extra hours, and tutor availability. Plus being able to discuss what I'm working on with other students would be a definite plus.

Will mull it all over for a bit longer I think.

Thanks all,

MP

Don't forget the way that fees are rocketing for 2012 entry.

If you finish your degree with the OU, you'll graduate in 2013 with no debt but if you start a 3 year degree in 2012 at a bricks and mortar university, you'll graduate in 2015 owing nearly 40 grand.

If you've been happy to study with the OU before, it doesn't seem a hard choice to make!

Ames

Check out the lifelong learning centre at the uni. I'm in the process of applying for a part time degree through mine, it'd start this year so fees would be the current rate. Application dates are completely different doing it that way, for mine you can apply any time up to the course starting.

viktory

I am always surprised by the number of people that post on here asking what benefits they'll get when studying but never consider the debt they will end up with. Considering so many graduates leave University completely unable to get the most basic job, it seems insane to consider running up that much debt. There are other, cheaper ways of getting a degree.I often wonder if it is because people are scared that with the new rules it is the easier option than getting a job. Lots of apparently free money for not a lot of effort at University (in some, not all cases).