Benefits for a single mother while at university? Help is much needed

Evelyn96

Hello and thanks for reading.

My name is Evelyn, I am an 18 year old who is currently 21 weeks pregnant with her first child. I will be a single mother, the babies father has decided he does not want to be involved in mine or the babies life but that's his loss. The pregnancy was obviously unplanned, I would have never have planned a child while at sixth form and approaching university. I know some people may not agree with my choice to continue the pregnancy and I appreciate that. However, unless you have been in my situation please don't pass judgement on what I should have done. I did not find out until I was 12 weeks and by then I felt that an abortion was ethically wrong in my own opinion. I also know there are girls much younger than me with much more instability financially and family wise who go on to keep and raise children so I am not willing to destroy a life when I am more capable than some others are.

I finished sixth form in July with fantastic A levels results, in January I already applied for a university in London and got a conditional offer, I met those conditions when I got my results. When I found out I was pregnant I had to re think my plans dramatically. I decided to confide in my mother, needless to say she was not in the slightest bit happy about the fact I was pregnant and things became extremely tense between us, I then decided to move out. I know live with my grandparents in the same area, they are the opposite of my mum, they are not happy at the fact I have got pregnant but they want to help and support me as much as they can. Even when I found out I was expecting I intended to go on with university and they agreed that this was the best choice for me as a break being a "stay at home mum" is not what I want. They are willing to let me live there with the baby and help with childcare. My course is only 2 days a week but it is still classified as full time. Due to my course being in London I am now trying to get a transfer to the university in my home town as I know living costs in London are extortionate, I am still in the process of this. I know some people may feel I wont be able to study and raise a child but I want to give it a go as I am certain I am capable of this, and if for some reason I am not then I always have the option of dropping out and taking some time off but I am confident that wont happen.

I know I can get housing benefit to cover rent but for the moment at least I want to continue living with my grandparents and perhaps move out later in to my degree or when I get a job after my degree.

I am just wondering in regards of other benefits what I am entitled too and how much I will get. I think I am entitled to my student loan and extra grants/loan on top of that due to having a child along with income support, child tax credits and child benefit. Is there anymore I am entitled too and along with these benefits how much would that amount too? I am just trying to work out finances at the moment as I am very stressed about it and feel like me and the baby will not be able to manage.

I am unsure if the people I live with (my nan and granddad) will effect the benefits I receive, just in case I have disclosed some information on their finances. They are both retired, my granddad has a private pension (not much) and my nan has a state pension. They own their house outright and it is worth about 250k (if that's relevant) and I think they might have some savings but it is no more than about 5-10k.

I on the other hand have been supported by them and my mother and haven't worked due to being in sixth form, they where in receipt of child benefit for me until recently but I am soon to get my student loan.

I understand people may not agree with my choices and situation but all I am asking for is help to calculate what I am entitled too so I can finally get this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I fully intended to work full time after I graduate hence why its important for me to complete my degree as soon as possible. I would rather do this while my baby is young then provide a good life when shes older rather than wait until shes in school to start this and be struggling then.

Indie_Kid

You may be entitled to a bursary from university. There's also childcare help from student finance and the parents learning allowance.

You can't claim the childcare help from student finance and childcare help from tax credits. (You have to be working for at least 16 hours per week to claim this)

Evelyn96

Indie_Kid wrote: »

You may be entitled to a bursary from university. There's also childcare help from student finance and the parents learning allowance.

You can't claim the childcare help from student finance and childcare help from tax credits. (You have to be working for at least 16 hours per week to claim this)

At the moment I think childcare will be all sorted with grandparents as their both retired and are more than willing to help me. But thanks, its good to know I can afford additional childcare if needed.

allen35

Your grandparents income and savings are irrelevant for benefit purposes, how it affects student finance I am not sure.

janadarkprincess

hav you thought of adoption? i think you will struggle financially i am on dla and i only just manage to eat and i cant imagine paying for a baby to

allen35

Adoption !!!

Sigh-big sigh......

oldhand

I have little knowledge of the benefits system but I wanted to say I admire your determination to continue with your education and care for a baby.Having a granddaughter a little older than you (without a baby) at university I can appreciate the cost of that alone and am glad you have grandparents you can turn to.
Your mother not being pleased about you being pregnant I can understand as im sure she had visions of you finishing education first,finding good employment and then later on in life having children but as most people know life is rarely as simple as that.
However you may be surprised at the change in your mum when the infants born.Regarding the childs father im sorry he takes the attitude he "wants nothing to do with it" but whether he does or not he is still legally bound to help pay for it.
I do wish you the very best of luck in your future and hope you may be able to return to this board some day to say things have worked out well for you and the child.

mattcanary

Deleted as pointless comment

sammyjammy

OP is this you?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4994238

missbiggles1

Evelyn96 wrote: »

Hello and thanks for reading.

My name is Evelyn, I am an 18 year old who is currently 21 weeks pregnant with her first child. I will be a single mother, the babies father has decided he does not want to be involved in mine or the babies life but that's his loss. The pregnancy was obviously unplanned, I would have never have planned a child while at sixth form and approaching university. I know some people may not agree with my choice to continue the pregnancy and I appreciate that. However, unless you have been in my situation please don't pass judgement on what I should have done. I did not find out until I was 12 weeks and by then I felt that an abortion was ethically wrong in my own opinion. I also know there are girls much younger than me with much more instability financially and family wise who go on to keep and raise children so I am not willing to destroy a life when I am more capable than some others are.

I finished sixth form in July with fantastic A levels results, in January I already applied for a university in London and got a conditional offer, I met those conditions when I got my results. When I found out I was pregnant I had to re think my plans dramatically. I decided to confide in my mother, needless to say she was not in the slightest bit happy about the fact I was pregnant and things became extremely tense between us, I then decided to move out. I know live with my grandparents in the same area, they are the opposite of my mum, they are not happy at the fact I have got pregnant but they want to help and support me as much as they can. Even when I found out I was expecting I intended to go on with university and they agreed that this was the best choice for me as a break being a "stay at home mum" is not what I want. They are willing to let me live there with the baby and help with childcare. My course is only 2 days a week but it is still classified as full time. Due to my course being in London I am now trying to get a transfer to the university in my home town as I know living costs in London are extortionate, I am still in the process of this. I know some people may feel I wont be able to study and raise a child but I want to give it a go as I am certain I am capable of this, and if for some reason I am not then I always have the option of dropping out and taking some time off but I am confident that wont happen.

I know I can get housing benefit to cover rent but for the moment at least I want to continue living with my grandparents and perhaps move out later in to my degree or when I get a job after my degree.

I am just wondering in regards of other benefits what I am entitled too and how much I will get. I think I am entitled to my student loan and extra grants/loan on top of that due to having a child along with income support, child tax credits and child benefit. Is there anymore I am entitled too and along with these benefits how much would that amount too? I am just trying to work out finances at the moment as I am very stressed about it and feel like me and the baby will not be able to manage.

I am unsure if the people I live with (my nan and granddad) will effect the benefits I receive, just in case I have disclosed some information on their finances. They are both retired, my granddad has a private pension (not much) and my nan has a state pension. They own their house outright and it is worth about 250k (if that's relevant) and I think they might have some savings but it is no more than about 5-10k.

I on the other hand have been supported by them and my mother and haven't worked due to being in sixth form, they where in receipt of child benefit for me until recently but I am soon to get my student loan.

I understand people may not agree with my choices and situation but all I am asking for is help to calculate what I am entitled too so I can finally get this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I fully intended to work full time after I graduate hence why its important for me to complete my degree as soon as possible. I would rather do this while my baby is young then provide a good life when shes older rather than wait until shes in school to start this and be struggling then.

You can't transfer from a university where you haven't even started - you need to decline the place and apply through Clearing for somewhere more local to you.

Student loans /grants will rule out most means tested benefits, like IS.

Indie_Kid

For the next year after you've had the baby, you'll be classed as independent student due to being a parent responsible for a child under 18.

You would be able to apply for the special support grant instead of the maintenance grant. This is ignored in full for benefits and entitles you to the full maintenance loan.