Benefits for a single teenage mother student?

Sharna

Hello,

I am 18 and have recently found out im 8 weeks pregnant. It was not planned at all and was a genuine contraceptive failure, while I understand my situation is not ideal to be bringing up a child after seeing the scan I just know that I can not abort my child.

The baby's dad has since broken up with me and wants nothing to do with me or the child and has made that clear. I am also not expecting any payments from him.

Anyway, my A level results are due in August and I am 99% sure I have got in because of last years results combined will make the grades I hope. I am due to move about 2 hours away from home to go to a uni in London to study Law and will be living in the halls to start with.

My child is due in just under 7 months which is a lot of time so I understand I wont be eligible for any benefits until that time. My family are offering my no support, they are very angry that I am pregnant and that im keeping the child and they have said that I am too move out by September anyway and that they pretty much never want to see me again.

I understand you will all be thinking this will be hard for me but im willing to give it every effort to make it work. I don't want to take gap years or give up because I want to create the best life I can for my baby as soon as possible instead of being stuck in a job im not happy with or being a stay at home mum. No disrespect to stay at home mothers on benefits its just not what I want. I want to qualify as soon as I can.

My question is what benefits will I be eligible for? I know that I would be eligible for child benefits but would I be entitled to any housing support or would I still have to live in shared accommodation like students usually do? Would I also be entitled to any support on top of my student loan as will have to feed and clothe a second person and doubt child benefits alone will cover that.

thanks so much, Sharna.

Indie_Kid

You may be entitled to:
- income support
- housing benefit

Once baby is born, you'd be entitled to the 2 room rate.

If you're not entitled to income support due to student finance being too much, you should be entitled over the summer.

You'll be classed as an independent student for student finance when you have to apply for student finance for next year due to being a parent of a child.

Child tax credits aren't affected by student finance.

Voyager2002

I am sorry to hear that you face all these difficulties, particularly just after doing so well with your studies and university entrance.

Your ex is the baby's father and has a legal responsibility to contribute financially. It is up to him whether he does so voluntarily or through the CSA (which would involve extra cost), but that is not something he can avoid.

You might also contact the Welfar Officer of the Students' Union at the college you expect to attend. S/he should be able to give you specific advice about the housing options available at that college, as well as more general information about benefits for student parents.

tomtontom

I can't see how you are going to make this work. Your baby is due mid academic year, with no support you are not going to be able to complete the year, even with support it would be very difficult. With regard to housing you will not be allowed to stay in halls with a baby - don't get yourself tied in to a full year contract that you won't be using. The chances of you finding anywhere half decent to live in London and dependent on housing benefits are low, very low, and I can't see other students wanting to share with a baby in a shared house.

You need to be realistic as to what your options are - moving to London at this time is not going to work, should you choose to keep the baby.

Bantex_2

Sharna wrote: »

Hello,

I am 18 and have recently found out im 8 weeks pregnant. It was not planned at all and was a genuine contraceptive failure, while I understand my situation is not ideal to be bringing up a child after seeing the scan I just know that I can not abort my child.

The baby's dad has since broken up with me and wants nothing to do with me or the child and has made that clear. I am also not expecting any payments from him.

Anyway, my A level results are due in August and I am 99% sure I have got in because of last years results combined will make the grades I hope. I am due to move about 2 hours away from home to go to a uni in London to study Law and will be living in the halls to start with.

My child is due in just under 7 months which is a lot of time so I understand I wont be eligible for any benefits until that time. My family are offering my no support, they are very angry that I am pregnant and that im keeping the child and they have said that I am too move out by September anyway and that they pretty much never want to see me again.

I understand you will all be thinking this will be hard for me but im willing to give it every effort to make it work. I don't want to take gap years or give up because I want to create the best life I can for my baby as soon as possible instead of being stuck in a job im not happy with or being a stay at home mum. No disrespect to stay at home mothers on benefits its just not what I want. I want to qualify as soon as I can.

My question is what benefits will I be eligible for? I know that I would be eligible for child benefits but would I be entitled to any housing support or would I still have to live in shared accommodation like students usually do? Would I also be entitled to any support on top of my student loan as will have to feed and clothe a second person and doubt child benefits alone will cover that.

thanks so much, Sharna.

It is not yours or the father choice whether he pays. He is liable.

Indie_Kid

Is part time study an option? Ok, you'd only get your tuition fees paid for; but would be entitled to benefits. It might be a lot easier for you.

Mojisola

Sharna wrote: »

I understand you will all be thinking this will be hard for me but im willing to give it every effort to make it work. I don't want to take gap years or give up because I want to create the best life I can for my baby as soon as possible instead of being stuck in a job im not happy with or being a stay at home mum. No disrespect to stay at home mothers on benefits its just not what I want. I want to qualify as soon as I can.

While you are well-intentioned, you'll be putting yourself and your baby under a lot of unnecessary pressure by trying to get to uni this year.

You could make good use of a gap year by getting some work experience - even if you live of benefits for a while and do some voluntary work - and getting yourself used to coping with being a single mother. Without practical support from family and/or the child's father, it's not an easy life.

RAS

I would strongly advise against moving to London in the situation. You cannot stay in halls and finding accomodation on student loan with a baby will be incredibly difficult. Added to which if you fail your first year because of issues with the baby (things do happen like a bout of illness co-inciding with assessments), you will only have 3 years of funding left.

Once the baby is born you will get additional dependants grants from SFE and can be assessed as an independent student.

I suggest that you look for work now and save up to move out locally with the intention of re-applying for a 2015 start with your results to another university in an area with much lower living costs; you will pretty much be paid the same amount where ever you live outside London but living costs could be twice as much in some areas.

pmlindyloo

Your parents may be really upset with you at the moment - they are in shock - but it is very likely that they will come round to supporting you.

Faced with no support from your parents at the moment you have gone into 'survival mode' and are positive that you will cope on your own and not turn into a stay at home mum on benefits. I am sure with your positive attitude that you will cope.

However, you should take all the support that is offered and not make any hurried decisions.

You have many options so take time to consider them all.

Have a look at your university of choice's website and see if there is a section there about pregnant student and student mums.

Speak to the welfare department at the university and find out your options.

Only when you know what options there are then you can make a realistic choice be it deferring for a year or whatever.

Different universities have different facilities. Yours may have a creche for instance.

Gather as much information as possible before you make any decisions. In time things will 'fall into place'.

In the meantime, look after yourself and your baby.

sammyjammy

I really admire what you want to do but the others are right. You can probably defer your place. Have you applied to other Universities outside London, that is also worth considering. Definitely follow the advice to get in touch with University support people, you'll not be the first or the last for this to happen to.

If your Ex is also going to University then I don't believe you would be able to claim any income from him anyway. lets hope he gets himself a good well paid job post Uni, you owe it to yourself and your child to get him to pay child support.

best of luck to you, keep posting here, the boards hold a wealth of info and support (depending on which areas you post of course!)

xylophone

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/law/study-here/undergraduate-courses

Part time/evening study available here.

http://www.lifecharity.org.uk/home/?fn= Try here for help and support.