Just a whinge really...too much to do & not enough time

Oldernotwiser

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

Who told you that about the tax credits and ALF? You don't need to claim tax credits to get the Access to Learning Fund. I got money through it and I was just a full time student, with a part time wage and didn't claim any benefits whatsoever. The ALF is a pot of money the uni have for students, it's not a state benefit. I think you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don't at least apply.

You won't get help from ALF if you have other funds available to you and choose not to use them.

victory

You are doing the most fantastic job of juggling it all and I hope you pass with flying colours, the end is near, keep at it and you will justifiably reep the rewards, you go girl:D

BitterAndTwisted

It's official: brians daughter is Superwoman.

Lady, I am in awe of you. I felt tired just reading your first post: I don't know how you do it. You don't need any hint and tips but I reckon you could give us a good few.

My hat's off to you, it really is.

Cherry_Bomb

After reading your post I will never again moan about not having enough time

elisebutt65

brians_daughter wrote: »

Sorry PAP, i dont think i made myself very clear. Student services told me in order to be successful with an application i must be in receipt of all monies i was entitled to such as student loans, grants etc, council tax discounts, child benefit, tax credits etc. See the guidelines for my specific university below. Their stance (and maybe rightly so) is that I need to work so much i am not in reciept of 'full entitlement' from other scources (hence the wording 'entitled to' rather than 'in reciept of') if i chose to take up such entitlement i would not need the ALF... can kinda see where they are coming from

If eligible you must have taken out a student loan before receiving help from the Access to Learning Fund. In the case of students applying for loans you must have applied for and received your full assessed entitlement.


Tax Credits and Benefits – Please provide details of any Tax Credits you or your partner are entitled to inclu
ding a full breakdown of how they have been calculated.

I read that differently as you must get all the Student loans etc available and ALSO provide details of TC you get. You don't have to claim TC to get ALF, just the student stuff like maintenance grants and Parents allowance/childcare grants etc

It is hard though. I did my degree & Pgce as a lone parent, and like you, used to work on my uni stuff into the small hours, but I did it(& got a 1st). I'm now teaching and mentoring at an FE college - still doing prep & marking until 3am. Lol

It is so worth it. I get no benefits at all now, the kids see me working to pay for what we have & DS1(16) is trying to get a job alongside his college work.

Have to say though; I look at my student loan statement every year, laugh & then bin it! Every year the interest is more than I pay off! I'll be retiring in less than 20 years & I'll still be getting laughable statements until its written off

On the time side, I have a term-time only contract now & the holidays(after I've finished prep & marking) are sheer bliss, even if it does mean less pay. All maintenance and big cleaning has to wait until then. I wish my mum would do my ironing though

*Louise*

brians_daughter wrote: »

plans_all_plans - i cannot access the ALF as i do not claim tax credits (although we are more than entitled) i was told unless we were in receipt of full entitlements i would not be successful. No offence to anyone who claims TC but i wasnt brought up that way. I was raised with a strong ethic of you provide for your own by whatever legal means you can, couple this with the already negative notions often impossed upon single parents I am determined to do all i can to be self sufficient, TBH i would be not much worse off money wise if i worked 16 hours and claimed tc but that would just be too easy lol. My eldest helps out too much as it is TBH, my younger chuldren are 4,3 (almost) and 9 months so not much they can do as of yet apart from tidy toys etc.

It is legal.
And it's because you are working you are entitled to them.

If applying for them makes your life a little easier ffor you and ultimately your children then perhaps you should reconsider it.

mummyroysof3

maybe you should claim for tax credits..even if its just for short term to help you out...would be able to pay for a cleaner then

LegalBlonde

Can I just add to the voices saying you are absolutely amazing, I was literally :O in awe reading your post.

If we could do an MSE style wife swap or life swap you would soon be screaming for ways to make me more efficient lol.

I don't have kids but am pregnant, I work from home 20 hours a week and rarely manage anywhere near that, even though it is my only source of income and in theory I always think yes I will do loads, I am not on top of housework, have piles of to do things, things to ebay, things to take to drycleaners for near on 6 months, moving flats soon loads I could have done, have done nothing.

I am maybe being a little hard on myself as was sick in 1st trimester but alot of these chores predate the pregnancy :rotfl::rotfl:

So what you are doing now is amazing. But what is it that you want to change? Do you want more time with the kids? More time to yourself? Is there any way you can cut your hours? If not, your kids sound sensible enough so maybe you should schedule a bath and some me time every Sunday.

Well done, I am really hoping you will inspire me today!

harrys_nan

Wow superwoman, you are a star.
I havent anytime for ppl who sit on their backsides claiming every penny they can from hard working ppl (like you), but you are entitled to it, you contribute to the country and will continue to do so.For goodness sake think of it as a temporary bit of help which when you have completed all off your studies you will be then able to stand on your own two feet again.
I take my hat off to you x

Judith_W

Please please claim tax credits if you are entitled! I don't understand the attitude of wanting the ALF grant which is a finite resource from the Uni, which wouldn't go to others if you received it, when you could legitimately get money the govenment has earmarked for you! And then you might be able to afford to work one less shift a week/month and tada! you have the extra time you have been wanting.