Benefits and full time study worries - help please

walnut77

Hello, I have an offer to do an early years teacher training course starting in September and, while I've worked really really hard for this and am thrilled about it, am worried and terrified.
I have been sole carer for my husband for 13 years, since he had a breakdown and have practically raised our 3 children on my own. They are all settled in work/college now and my husband is coping well so it's time for a career for me - now that I'm almost 50! I have always wanted to teach and have done an OU degree in early years during the last few years.
Anyway, I need to take out a tuition loan and have applied for a grant too via Student Finance. We have been on benefits for years and I am so grateful for the help that we have received. I am looking forward to being able to work again and feel that I am contributing to society, although I did work for years before I had my children and became a carer. I have been trying to get some advice but all I am told is that the rules for full time students are very complicated.
I currently am on Income Support and get Carers Allowance and Child Tax Credit for my youngest as well as Child Benefit. My husband gets DLA and ESA. I am worried because I read a thread where a student was told, by the JobCentre, to give up her course because she couldn't get any help. I will need to buy a car to get to my school placements and was hoping to use the grant, if I qualify for it, to buy a cheap one. I feel this is our way out of the benefits 'trap' and really want to go for it.
Can anyone advise please?
Thank you for reading.

tomtontom

Has your husband notified the DWP of the improvement in his condition?

Thomas_The_Tank_Top

13 years off work - that would be great!

Indie_Kid

Thomas_The_Tank_Top wrote: »

13 years off work - that would be great!

Nice to see you have no idea what being a carer entails.

walnut77

Fine, thanks so much for your help. Should have guessed there would be nobody helpful in here.

Indie_Kid

Your child tax credits + child benefit won't be affected. There is a grant of some sort (I can't remember which) that does however affect child tax credits.

dippy3103

walnut77 wrote: »

Fine, thanks so much for your help. Should have guessed there would be nobody helpful in here.

There are lots of helpful knowledgeable people on here. Don't let one unhelpful comment out you off.

Students can get some help from HB. What course are you thinking of doing?

Penny-Pincher!!

I think if I'm correct, that they count the loans etc as income.

PP
x

Indie_Kid

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

I think if I'm correct, that they count the loans etc as income.

PP
x

They do, yes. There are some disregards.

dippy3103

But you may be able to get burserys etc.

Good luck to you- always admire people who strive to better their lot in life. Especially when they have had a tough time

FBaby

Do you really think that buying a car is the best use of a grant that is approved on the basis that it should be used towards your studies? You are about to change your life around so that hopefully you can start supporting your family yet your first thought is about buying a car!

Yes, the grant will affect how much benefit you get, but surely if you are so grateful for all you've received so far, you won't mind getting a bit less if it means that you can get a qualification and finally go back to work? And if your husband is getting better, maybe he could consider taking a part time job to help make up the difference?