Student benefits

mrs_T

I have two daughters living at home 18 and 20 and in full time education, one works 16 hours a week and the other has a casual job a few hours a month. Niether get anything from SAAS other than fees paid (we live in Scotland) due to both parents working and I don't want them to get in to debt. Is there anything else they/we might be entitled to, especialy the one who is struggling to find even part time employment?

Dunroamin

mrs_T wrote: »

I have two daughters living at home 18 and 20 and in full time education, one works 16 hours a week and the other has a casual job a few hours a month. Niether get anything from SAAS other than fees paid (we live in Scotland) due to both parents working and I don't want them to get in to debt. Is there anything else they/we might be entitled to, especialy the one who is struggling to find even part time employment?

Full time students are unable to claim benefits unless they're lone parents or disabled. They should take out the student loans which are available to them pay for their upkeep - that's what they're for!

anguk

I know it's different in Scotland but my daughter is going to university in September and we've just sorted out her student loans. Just with the tuition fees alone she's going to be about £25,000 in debt by the time she's finished her degree, then there will be maintenance loans on top! :eek:

I know you don't want them to get into debt but unfortunately that's a fact of student life now unless you can financially support them or they can get work. At least they don't have to pay tuition fees, my daughter's are £8,500 a year. :eek:

BigAunty

Many Universities and colleges offer scholarships/bursaries/prizes. They also run hardship funds for those in need.

Their University/college webpage or support services should have links to various trusts and charities that offer bursaries or similar. A big book of these can usually be found in most public libraries.

There is a student money saving board on this website that will have info on this kind of thing.

Other than that, as suggested previously, they should take out a loan as this pays for their living and studying expenses and can pay towards their keep to you.

Depending on their course and employment opportunities, they may be able to pick up more part time employment. My Uni course only had about 12-15 hours of class time and I worked part time during all years and full time during virtually all vacations. My Uni and college actually had a job shop stuffed with casual vacancies for students though I expect these days, they post them online. I appreciate that you've said there is limited employment opportunities in your area though.

You can double check if you are due any benefits on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

mrs_T

Thanks for the replies, I realise we are lucky in that they will hopefully get through with no debt but it does feel like they are penalised because OH and I have stayed married and are both working.

baza52

mrs_T wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I realise we are lucky in that they will hopefully get through with no debt but it does feel like they are penalised because OH and I have stayed married and are both working.

How are they being penalised because you stayed married and both work?

anguk

mrs_T wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I realise we are lucky in that they will hopefully get through with no debt but it does feel like they are penalised because OH and I have stayed married and are both working.

Even if you were a single parent and didn't work they would still have to either get student loans or a job. :huh: Very few students finish their degree with no debt nowadays unless their parents are wealthy enough to financially support them.

It could be worse, if you lived in England they'd be penalised even more because they'd have to find up to £9,000 a year to pay the tuition fees.

mrs_T

Looking at saas if we had a joint income less than £36,500 they would be entitled to a bursary which they wouldn't have to pay back. It doesn't take into account how many children we have or how much over the limit our income is.

Dunroamin

BigAunty wrote: »

Many Universities and colleges offer scholarships/bursaries/prizes. They also run hardship funds for those in need.

.

They won't be eligible for any hardship funding etc if they haven't taken out the student loans that are available to them

Dunroamin

mrs_T wrote: »

Looking at saas if we had a joint income less than £36,500 they would be entitled to a bursary which they wouldn't have to pay back. It doesn't take into account how many children we have or how much over the limit our income is.

If you feel so strongly about their not getting in debt, give them an allowance out of your own income. Just don't expect them to be able to claim any benefits or hardship funding just so they finish university without any student loans.

Februarycat

mrs_T wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I realise we are lucky in that they will hopefully get through with no debt but it does feel like they are penalised because OH and I have stayed married and are both working.

It's the same for Single parents, my son started Uni last year, and CB, CT/WT all stopped, it's difficult when they are still living at home with you and still need feeding and bills to pay.