Benefits for a single teenage mother student?

Sharna

sammyjammy wrote: »

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!)

Thanks for everyones comments support and input. I understand while all of you think it wouldn't be practical or possible to go through university with a child I am confident this will work and if it does not I can always decide to drop out until I am ready. My sister worked and went to university with a baby (finished work when the baby was 5 months old to start uni) she said work was a lot more challenging for her with a baby than uni was, but she was married had a house already and a husband who had a great income, also her subject was art so talent based really.

I have been accepted by a university local too me, so would be living in my area if I choose this uni, I wanted to go to the one in London as it has a better reputation but I understand everyones comments and know property can be expensive and hard to find out there as well as high living costs. In my area the average rent for a 2 bed property is in the region of 550-700. The only thing I am concerned about is would I still be able to move out and get housing benefit? Its really not an option for me to live at home, my mother told me originally before I found out I was pregnant that If I went to this uni I could live at home and just contribute towards what it costs her to let me live here since she won't be getting child benefit for my anymore. However when I told her I was pregnant she has said that even if i go to this uni i will have to make other living arrangements because she doesn't want this "thing" under her roof! she can be very mean at times and this has been going on for 6 weeks so really don't think shes going to change her mind

So if i did pick this local one would I still be eligible to move out while studying? My grandmother who is retired has told me she will look after the baby a few days throughout the week and im sure I can arrange for my auntie too care for the child when she can't. I cant move in with either of them because my auntie only has a 2 bedroom house with 3 sons (one being autistic) and my grandmother only has a really small bungalow and wouldn't be fair on her to rely on her to house me. My sister also lives abroad now. So childcare is pretty much okay if i live down here.

Again, I understand what everyone is saying but I am prepared to give my every effort to make this work and attend lectures and sit exams just as I would with out a child. I just need to know that I have the financial support to be able to do it. It seems I would be better off not working/studying and entitled to more but want to get a future for me and my child set up ready for when he/she starts school. I know so many girls who are on benefits and having a hard time deciding the future and just need to get mine sorted.

Sharna

i was on the student calculator and what I am entitled too seems to high to be correct.

They have said (this is for living outside London)
8000 a year tuition loan.

282.25 a month maintenance loan
281.83 a month maintenance grant
127.00 a month parents learning allowance
600.00 a month childcare grant (should I choose to apply0
336 a month in child benefit/tax credits

totaling to 1,100 a month.

Is this correct? it just seems like it is a little too much or would that be including my rent too?

sorry if i sound stupid, never really looked in to this before as never had the intention of being pregnant.

Indie_Kid

If you pick the local uni, you can still move out. It might be easier to look for private rental than it would be a student house.

As a full time student, you're exempt from council tax.

I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.

Your student finance would be intended to cover all / some of your rent. I seem to remember that as a parent studying, you're entitled to the special support grant instead of the maintenance grant. This is ignored in full for benefits and doesn't reduce your student loan.

Mojisola

Sharna wrote: »

Thanks for everyones comments support and input. I understand while all of you think it wouldn't be practical or possible to go through university with a child I am confident this will work and if it does not I can always decide to drop out until I am ready.

My sister worked and went to university with a baby (finished work when the baby was 5 months old to start uni) she said work was a lot more challenging for her with a baby than uni was, but she was married had a house already and a husband who had a great income, also her subject was art so talent based really.

Your sister's situation was very different!

If you do have to drop out, it will have implications for funding future courses.

Sharna

Mojisola wrote: »

Your sister's situation was very different!

If you do have to drop out, it will have implications for funding future courses.

I already have funding for the first two years. My dads mum put an amount in to a savings account for me when she died and my dad was told it was to be used when I went to uni. back then it was enough to cover a whole degree but now only 2 years, she did the same for my sister too.

Sharna

I have been looking in to childcare options and with the grant I think I can safely afford a childminder on the days when family can not do it for me.

Marshmallow82

Sharna wrote: »

So if i did pick this local one would I still be eligible to move out while studying? My grandmother who is retired has told me she will look after the baby a few days throughout the week and im sure I can arrange for my auntie too care for the child when she can't. I cant move in with either of them because my auntie only has a 2 bedroom house with 3 sons (one being autistic) and my grandmother only has a really small bungalow and wouldn't be fair on her to rely on her to house me. My sister also lives abroad now. So childcare is pretty much okay if i live down here.

.

You should definitely do this! Think about being in london with not one person to watch baby in an emergency.

Oh, to answer your question it will not affect housing benefit if you live in the same town as your parents. It's irrelevant.

bloolagoon

Sharna wrote: »

I already have funding for the first two years. My dads mum put an amount in to a savings account for me when she died and my dad was told it was to be used when I went to uni. back then it was enough to cover a whole degree but now only 2 years, she did the same for my sister too.

Is this your savings?

Mojisola

Sharna wrote: »

I have been looking in to childcare options and with the grant I think I can safely afford a childminder on the days when family can not do it for me.

From your first post, I thought you didn't have any family support.

HB58

Bless her, your nan will never know how much that money will help you!