Help for a frustrated young man!

Wannabe_Student

Hi All,

Hope all is well, I've been pulling my hair out trying to get some answers regarding benefits and returning to education so I thought I would turn to you for some advice.

Here is my story:

I'm 20 years old from London, grew up in Republic of Ireland and left when I was 18 to move to Swansea on my own. I've been studying part time as well as working since then in a call centre until April this year when I had some health issues and after recovering was basically told my job was gone.

So since then I have been volunteering and receiving JSA and Housing Benefit for my 1 bedroom flat, I have recently decided on going to college to Full Time from Sept to carry on my part time Accounting course as well as take 3 A-levels. In Ireland I only done the Irish equivalent to GCSE's.

Basically now I have signed up and been given the green light from the college for the course. However, my issue lies with how I am going to survive, I won't be entitled to JSA so I'm wondering will I be able to get Income Support instead in addition to my Housing Benefit?

Will I be entitled to any benefits at all? I went to discuss my Housing benefit and was told I need to be on either JSA or Income Support to still claim. It will be pretty impossible for me to carry on signing on as it will clash with classes.

I've asked about Income Support and have just been told to make contact in September, I really want to know now as if I have to move house or make other arrangements I would rather do them now than next month when I'm at college.

All my family are still in Ireland so financially I need all the help I can get!

Anyway, big thanks to all who have read all of this! And an even bigger one goes to anyone who replies with help!

Many Thanks

Michael

Bill_Bob

Income Support does cater for students in certain circumstances but you probably don't meet them.

The general criteria is

• are a lone parent
• have a partner who is also a student - and one or both of you are responsible for a child
• have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium, severe disability premium or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

This maybe a better place to start looking for help whilst you're on your course. Direct.gov - Student finance

airliner

You may not even be entitled to HB. You don't need to be on a qualifying benefit to get HB, the only worry is that you would be considered a full time student and therefore ineligible unless you don't fit into certain groups.

Oldernotwiser

Full time students are ineligible to claim means tested benefits unless they're lone parents or disabled.

Why not look at doing an OU course instead of A levels? You can either claim JSA or get a job (you can still claim HB if you're on a low income). If you start with the OU now, your fees will be means tested (in your case free) not just for this year but for the rest of your degree.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/business-and-management/accounting-and-finance/index.htm

Wannabe_Student

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies, your views do seem to match the views I have got elsewhere so thanks for clarifying it for me even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear lol.

Oldernotwiser I just really have my heart set on these A-Levels and giving myself more options after completing them.

I have been thinking today about the prospect of a part time job. If I were to get a Saturday job and so work about 8 hours a week earning about 40-50 quid, would this mean that i would be able to sign off JSA and still claim housing benefit due to having a low income?

This would be ideal as I would get enough money every month through working to live on and I would also have the housing benefit paying my rent.

N.B I will only be going to college, not university and so will not be receiving any student loans. Maybe because of this I would be able to get away with keeping my full time studies a secret from the authorities?

Just a thought, would love to know what you all think, thanks again.

Michael

podperson

I wouldn't suggest 'hiding' it from whatever benefit agency you are trying to claim from - for example on jsa they specifically ask you if you are studying full-time, if you lie and answer no then you will be in trouble if they find out (and don't under-estimate the details they can get hold of!)
Have you checked whether you can do the A-Levels in night classes then you could still legitimately claim jsa. If you're on an accounting course anyway do you really need the A-Levels? If you just did the accounting course then how much time would that take up? While you may think it's nice to have A-Levels in the grand scheme of things then what difference do you think they're going to make to your prospects?

elmer

As a full time student you cannot claim Housing benefit, so you will need to find enough work to cover your rent as well as your living expenses.

elmer

Oldernotwiser

podperson wrote: »

I wouldn't suggest 'hiding' it from whatever benefit agency you are trying to claim from - for example on jsa they specifically ask you if you are studying full-time, if you lie and answer no then you will be in trouble if they find out (and don't under-estimate the details they can get hold of!)
Have you checked whether you can do the A-Levels in night classes then you could still legitimately claim jsa. If you're on an accounting course anyway do you really need the A-Levels? If you just did the accounting course then how much time would that take up? While you may think it's nice to have A-Levels in the grand scheme of things then what difference do you think they're going to make to your prospects?

I completely agree with all of this and also wonder why someone would think that they have more options open to them with A levels compared with a degree.

pcombo

Cant you get a bursary from SAAS.

I think they do outside scotland funding, Maybe give them a call.

http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/index.htm

Wannabe_Student

Hi Again,

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Oldernotwiser and Podperson: After doing a lot of research it has come to my knowledge that the A-Levels would be a massive help for my future, the degree at OU is something which I would probably not even meet the entry requirements for, also, because of not having the A-Levels under my belt I would be ineligible for many graduate jobs even if I was able to take and complete it.

Podperson: The A-levels which I want to do are not available as part time courses.

Pcombo: Thanks for the suggestion I have checked it out and it unfortunately only leads to a grant which I've already applied for. However, it's not enough to even come close to housing costs.

I realise I could take the A-Levels as part of a home-study course but this is certainly not ideal.

Thanks again for everything you've suggested, if anything comes to mind please let me know.

DorsetGirl_2

You dont need any qualifications for the OU. You start with Level One courses and work your way up so that you have a full degree at the end of it. I have done a couple of stand-alone modules with them.