Struggling on student loan!

sazdz17

I have just moved in with my partner a month ago, and before that time we were both receiving benefits, he was on ESA and i was on income support and housing benefit. These claims stopped as we were advised that claiming as a couple would be our best option and we'd get more financial aid, which now evidently is not the case and has left us in complete financial ruin.
I can only afford enough for our rent each month with £50 left over for everything such as gas, electric, water, phone, internet, tv license AND food. I cannot afford all of this for the both of us and I need to pay for equipment for my degree! I can literally afford nothing on the remainding £50.
We were told that we would be supported more so as a couple and now were being told "no" everywhere we turn, we are no longer entitled to anything at all and it's distressing us greatly that there are no other source's of income.
My partner is unable to work because of mental illness and i am on a full time degree at university. What the hell can we do!!!??!??
I can't believe we're expected to live off £50 each month between the two of us and I'm expected to use my STUDENT LOAN for two people which, i will have to eventually pay back, and me and my partner might not even be together by then, so what the hell?!
I've applied for all maximum loan and grant amounts but it still isn't enough for everything, i'm so SO terrified and don't know how we're going to survive, i fear that my partner will have to move back home and i'll have to drop out of my degree and wait a whole year before i can put my life back together. I really really do not want this because i know ill lose everything.
Please say that someone knows how i can sort all of this out? I'm at my wits end
thanks x


Also: if anyone suggests getting a part time job, please don't be patronizing because im in the north east of england and it's absolutely impossible to find a job around here! and i have applied places.

ILW

Get a part time job.

sazdz17

ILW wrote: »

Get a part time job.

if it was that easy to get a part time job in the north east area with statistically one of the highest unemployment rates, then i would.

Emmzi

It does indeed seem that you cannot afford to live together.

Are you in a room or a flat? Most students have a room in a shared house which is cheaper.

You probably don't need a tv if you are busy studying.

It is possible to eat on £10 a week for one, but if you move into accomodation appropriate to your income, you may have a little more to cover other things.

Also, university hardship fund.

And post on the debt free wannabe board where they are experts on living cheaply. they will want to know your income and outgoings.

It's a choice. What do you want more, a qualification or a nice flat with your partner? You probably can't have both right now. So choose one.

Emmzi

PS term has only just started. Bit early to say "I can't find a job". Especially with Xmas temp opportunities coming up.

Do you intend to support his partner financially forever? It isn't going to get any easier when you resent them with just one wage coming in.

Nirvana9

Sorry, but you knew people were going to tell you to get a part time job, it's the obvious solution.

You're saying you can't get a job because you're in the North East and it has the worst unemployment rates in the UK etc, etc, etc, but have you actually tried to get a job? Really tried.

How many places have you applied? Are you writing them unique cover letters?

Even in very high unemployment regions there still are jobs. If you want one badly enough, you'll be able to get one.

Nirvana9

FYI, some sources say Nottingham has the highest unemployment rates in the UK. I live here and since University finished (2008) I've had six jobs. I've been out of work for a matter of weeks.

I needed a job to survive, so I got them. Whatever they were.

looby75

Nirvana9 wrote: »

Sorry, but you knew people were going to tell you to get a part time job, it's the obvious solution.

You're saying you can't get a job because you're in the North East and it has the worst unemployment rates in the UK etc, etc, etc, but have you actually tried to get a job? Really tried.

How many places have you applied? Are you writing them unique cover letters?

Even in very high unemployment regions there still are jobs. If you want one badly enough, you'll be able to get one.

if only that were true. My daughter has been trying to find a p/t job that fits in with her studies for 2 years now. She has pounded the streets, handed in probably at least 500 cv's, applied for temp christmas jobs, as soon as she turned 18 she applied for bar work. And in all that time she's had just 2 interviews.

Shes intelligent, polite, well dressed but all the feedback she's been getting is that she's not fully flexible because of her sixth form hours and has no experience. They are getting 100's of applicants who are both fully flexible and have lots of experience.

Nirvana9

looby75 wrote: »

if only that were true. My daughter has been trying to find a p/t job that fits in with her studies for 2 years now. She has pounded the streets, handed in probably at least 500 cv's, applied for temp christmas jobs, as soon as she turned 18 she applied for bar work. And in all that time she's had just 2 interviews.

Shes intelligent, polite, well dressed but all the feedback she's been getting is that she's not fully flexible because of her sixth form hours and has no experience. They are getting 100's of applicants who are both fully flexible and have lots of experience.

Okay perhaps I shouldn't have said you 'will' be able to get one. There's of course no certs in life and I'm sorry your daughter has struggled so hard.

My main point was that it doesn't sound as if the op has tried that hard to get a job. To get a job in this market you do need to try hard, put yourself out there, make yourself stand out and take what you can get (has your daughter tried call centres? They vary in awfulness but they're always hiring people).

I just think some people give up too easily, and it sounds this way in regards to the op...

DCFC79

Depends where you been looking for a job, any xmas jobs around, where abouts in north east do you live ?

pawsies

I am inclined to agree that the NE is hard to find a job but continuously applying pays off. I got a job in a care home, something I didn't want to do but did anyway for the experience, two days later I got an offer from a tourist attraction and accepted and it's not a great job but it pays and gives me experience. Try and think outside the box, for this job I'm in now I looked on the website. They didn't even advertise job vacancies anywhere else and although I got rejected initially for the position I applied for they thought I was suited to a different department, hence this job.
Retail is extremely hard to get in to, you're up against 100's of others. Try other jobs that no one else tries for and especially locally jobs as they are more likely to choose a local person if they can.