Single parent considering University, benefits advice please...

BBBNH

Hi,

Since my ex left me and our daughter, I am just about surviving, he's a good Dad and buys her lovely things for his house, I'm not really able to do that, she wouldn't have much at all if he wasn't in her life and I don't want it to carry on like this. Since we split I've had to move back home to my mum, which isn't really ideal, but I don't have much choice . I need things to change and the only way I can see it happening is by going to University and hopefully that way I'll have a better chance at getting myself a good career and getting out of this bloody benefit trap.

This could be a bit long winded, but please bare with me.

I'm self employed, I work 2 days per week, whilst my daughter is in private nursery. Catch 22; can't afford to put her in any more hours, therefore have no choice but to only work 2 days per week. My profit in the last tax year was £2800 quite a bit less than minimum wage. I'm in the middle of an advertising campaign for my business and i'm hoping with all this advertising that i'll earn minimum wage (at least) for my two days that I work over the next couple of years. I claim child benefit, child tax credits & working tax credits. I rely on these, if these were taken away I couldn't eat, therefore I believe I'm in a benefit trap and I want to get out.

I currently volunteer for the Labour Party, I love it, I want to do a degree in Politics, but before I can I need to go to College & complete my access course (this September hopefully) I'll be a mature student in my late 20's.

If all goes to plan, I want to keep my business (working 16 hours, no way could I do anymore) as well as study in College & University. My business is stress free, requires very little paperwork etc... It's just physical work. I don't think I could afford to give it up, even though it's not actually earning me much money.

My questions are -

1. If I start college in September & keep my business going (16 hours) will I still be entitled to WTC? Same question regarding University too.

2. If so, when UC comes, will I be expected to increase my working hours even though I'll be a full time student? (I don't think so as my child will be under 5, but if someone could clarify?)

3. When my daughter starts school (at some point in my degree) will I be expected to up my working hours under UC, even though I'll also be a full time student?

4. What help will I be entitled to as a mature student? Bare in mind I live with my Mum, who earns about £12,000 per year. I'm so scared of being in debt & never being able to pay it back, getting in trouble etc..

5. Will my child tax credit & child benefit be affected? Are they taken into account when assessing what help I'm entitled to?

6. If, at the end of my degree, I couldn't find work (hopefully worst case scenario) Could I go back as self employed? I'd be able to do it full time then, as my daughter would be in school, so would hopefully earn an acceptable profit. Would I be entitled to UC if it wasn't bringing much money in?

I know from a friend who has children and has just completed a degree, that she had her study fees paid (I know she has to pay them back when she's earning over a certain amount) she also got something called a maintenance grant which is re-payable. If I'm entitled to this grant, do I have to take it? I think I'd rather not, the thought of all this debt is terrifying me.

Any help/advice appreciated.

paddedjohn

To qualify for wtc dont you have to earn at least nmw for the 16 hrs?

BBBNH

paddedjohn wrote: »

To qualify for wtc dont you have to earn at least nmw for the 16 hrs?

No, not at the moment, as I certainly don't! But hopefully I should be once I get the last of my advertising sorted. Then again, I'm a new business, less than a year old.

RoxieW

Hello

I can't answer your benefits questions but I just wanted to offer some encouragement. Is uni the only way forward for you? Could you get more involved in the politics another way? I ask because I personally have found work experience, getting involved and working the way up to have a more positive outcome in a lot of cases.

BBBNH

RoxieW wrote: »

Hello

I can't answer your benefits questions but I just wanted to offer some encouragement. Is uni the only way forward for you? Could you get more involved in the politics another way? I ask because I personally have found work experience, getting involved and working the way up to have a more positive outcome in a lot of cases.

Hi, thanks for replying.

In an ideal world i'd do as you said, i've started volunteering and will hopefully become a member of my local labour party, i'm just worried about stability for my daughter, i feel a degree would give me financial stability & security.

Dunroamin

Although you can't do pure Politics with the OU they do offer a degree in PPE which might interest you. At the very least you could offer a level one unit from this as an alternative degree entry qualification which might make life simpler for you than doing an Access course.

plum2002

Dunroamin wrote: »

Although you can't do pure Politics with the OU they do offer a degree in PPE which might interest you. At the very least you could offer a level one unit from this as an alternative degree entry qualification which might make life simpler for you than doing an Access course.

PPE is an amazingly useful degree, of those of us that shared a house and read it from my intake, we number a head teacher of a very successful grammar school, a leading light of the opposition, 3 barristers, 4 own their own successful profitable businesses, 2 leading journalists and a civil servant heading up the ranks in a speedy manner - a really useful suggestion.

BigAunty

Is your allegedly lovely ex paying any child maintenance to you so that you have more disposable income to feed and clothe your child? It's all very well him keeping the nice stuff for her just at his property but you sound like you are struggling and under CSA formula, you are entitled to 10% of his income to support his child. This you can keep on top of your benefits without it affecting them.

Does the college have a benefits advisor that can answer some of these specialist questions?

When I googled 'full time student and working tax credits', a lot of college/Uni advice sites had info on it, like this one

http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/helpadvice/money/benefits/

Lone parents are one of the few social groups, along with the disabled, who can get income related benefits while studying. You may find a website like Gingerbread or similar will have info on this. AFAIK, lone parents who are also students qualify for child tax credits and CB like any other household.

brians_daughter

Just a word of warning - Please talk to TC re not earning MW. A friend of mine has been told unless she can prove shes earned MW for her SE role she will not be entitled to childcare or working tax as HMRC 'no longer support hobbies' (HMRC words not mine). They believe that people (not all obviously) are working say 5 hours a week, claiming 16 and getting all the tax credits that are associated with it. She is still fighting with them as they are saying shes been over paid in childcare and tc... i wouldnt want to see anyone go through what Jane has of late with HMRC

TBH if you arent earning minimum wage you need to see if it really is a viable business.

re uni - i graduated last year (also in politics) with 3 under 5's and worked 50 hours a week. It almost killed me, but i did it.

With fees being what they are now i would consider OU if possible rather than FT education. The fees are frightening adn experience is worth more than any degree (unless of course you are required to hold a certian certificate to work ie doctor, nurse etc - you get the picture)

shoe*diva79

BigAunty wrote: »

, you are entitled to 10% of his income to support his child.
.

Its 15% for one child. Not 10% as BigAunty quoted. The assessment would be reduced 1/7th per night, per week your child stays overnight with the NRP.

DannyboyMidlands

"I'm self employed, I work 2 days per week..........quite a bit less than minimum wage"

Yeah right.