If I go back to uni what benefits can my umemployed partner get?

cryffmoon

Hello

I am a working Dad(1 baby daughter) and earn over the threshold for my partner to go onto job seekers allowance.

Recently I have decided I want to do a pgce which would be full time study for a year.

In terms of grants for pgce they have dried up a lot, especially for the subject I wish to teach.

I was hoping if I wasn´t earning my partner would be able to go on job seekers allowance and but does the fact I will be a student affect this?

Also will this affect our child benefits and CTC?

To complicate matters my partner is Italian and although she has a NI number has yet to make any contributions.

Any expert advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

MrsManda

If you are going to be studying a full time PGCE you will be able to apply for the full student finance package of maintanence loan, maintanence grant, tuition fees, and possibly an adult dependent grant and parental learning allowance.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Typesoffinance/DG_171531

Your wife may be able to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit on behalf of you both and claim income based JSA if she's jobhunting.

For income based benefits some of your student finance package will count as income (this applies whether you choose to take it out or not).

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876

It won't affect Child Benefit as this is not currently means tested but I don't know about CTC.

Oldernotwiser

You don't mention whether your partner will actually be looking for work or not.

karenx

If she isnt looking for work then no theres nothing she can claim.