Helping Uni friend with her access learning fund application... Questions

brians_daughter

Hi all, I am part of our "university buddy scheme" and as a result assist vulnerable students with whatever it is they need help with. This can be things like meeting new people, tours of the area etc. One of my buddy members asked her would I help her fill in an ALF form, so I said of course I would.

I know nothing much about ALF apart from the basics and they require lots of info (sounds reasonable and simple but my "buddy" in question suffers with great anxiety problems ATM and providing and collecting all the info will stress her out....

this is going to be long sorry!

The basic answer I am looking for is will she qualify but I need to give all background then hopefully you can assist me assist her

Her situ on paper now is fine however it's not going to be in next few weeks hence the ALF application going in now before the poo really hits the fan so to speak.

Currently she lives in her and her ex partners home and doesn't pay rent etc as ex pays it instead of maintenance. Ex got new woman said he would only pay what Csa say he should and wishes to go via CSA which is fair enough.

That leaves her with 350 a month to find to cover rest of housing costs. She can't claim any rent allowance etc as they own the property, she can't move out to rent cause can't afford deposit won't be priority for social housing as she owns part of the house she lives in, can't sell as estate agent valued house at 20k less than mortgage.

Her ex has also decided he's going to cut down child contact hours ATM He has them 4 times a week from 5-11 so she can work. Obviously now she won't be able to as no childminder or nursery will have children until 11pm. The alternative shift isn't doable as it is the same times as her lectures - in essence she needs to start looking for another job, which we all know is hard in current climate. She works in care so shifts tend to be early starts or late finishes so she needs to look at a different role that enables her to fit round kids

She applied for tc and wtc in October when I became her buddy as she wasn't in receipt of these. They backdated her claim 90 days and she got a sizeable lump sum that she used to pay off accruing cc debt and closed accounts.

Now she gets the student finance, cb, wtc and ctc nil council tax liability being only adult in household and a student. Csa claim to be made

As it stands on paper she can afford all her outgoings now.

However she needs to hand in her notice at work, her ex has given her 6 weeks to sort it out he is stopping the childcare til 11pm on 17th march (dunno where the date has sprung from)

I said its best for her to apply toALF now as in 6 weeks she will be loosing 70 a week wtc , 140 a week wages and will need to find the extra to cover the mortgage payments. She's gone to Csa re support for kids as ex has turned (in her eyes) unreasonable.

So now for the help!

Is she better applying now or waiting until she's quit her job? Also as she has large payments going in and out her account in from tax credits backdating and out to pay off the cc debt she was in will they turn her down?

I can see she was doing what she thought was for the best ie paying off debts etc will the ALF see it differently? She has no access to the cc as she was falling behind with some payments so the cards limits have been lowered to the outstanding balances. Obviously she didn't account for ex hubby's new rulings which is basically her downfall in all this

On the app does she state she's having to either stop working or stop Uni? This is the reality of it really she could change to morning shifts if she wasn't at Uni and if stays has little chance of securing employment until summertime when the course ends for summer break.

Do I advise her to put on the forms what I have above? Ie changing situs etc mean she won't be able to cope financially etc

Can anyone offer any I sight to the alf processes/how decisions are reached

She has booked in to see an advisor and requested I go with her but I am not able to be on campus at the same time as the advisor until Friday and they will not discuss over phone just f2f. Hence asking here

Sorry for the really really long post but I feel the information was needed for someone to be able to advise me. I have gone through an soa with her and she's basically started to do what she can but is tied into some things like sky etc.

I have also advised her to join MSE but she had read a few replies in the benefits forum which is making her reluctant to join (she really is going brought it mentally and emotionally ATM and I think any negative comments would set her off) she knows I am posting about her here nd is happy for me to do so

So Thanks if you have read all this, and a bigger thanks if you can assist

Anna x

brians_daughter

What's SMI? As I say I am no university entitlement expert, my role usually involves accompanying new students to social gatherings whilst they get to know their peers

brians_daughter

copa_feela wrote: »

Once she has left work she may be eligible for SMI. The ALF would expect her to claim this before they offer her funds.

See again, does she apply now as a working parent or wait til she's finished? I can see the benefits of both ie do it now get any additional support in place prior to loosing the £s but on the other hand if she waits then her circumstances will truly be that she cannot cope/afford ect

brians_daughter

Ah just googled SMI no she will not qualify. Mortgage in exes name but they have a trust deed or something set up where she holds as much say in property as he does and is on deeds but not on mortgage - don't fully understand it but it seems to be a common thing as my sister has the same type of set up with her hubby and their mortgage

brians_daughter

Ah jcp told her she wouldn't get it due to that fact and also cause she doesn't get income support and wouldn't qualify as a student until summertime. The SMI has a 3 month waiting period doesn't it? She's hoping to secure pt work to fit around Uni and kids come summertime