Any other benefits for a single mum in full time education?

Coz

I will be going into my 2nd year of full time college in September. Due to my child turning 5 in June, I will no longer receive income support and will not be entitled to job seeker's allowance as I will be studying for over 16 hours a week. I will only be receiving child tax credit and child benefit, which is about £82 per week altogether.


I was wondering if there was any other benefit I was entitled to without having to leave my child to work evening and weekends.


My cousin's husband used to be on ESA, which they stopped. They have a child who is nearly 6. They have re-claimed for income support which they are now receiving again instead of ESA. Don't know if it is because her husband has problems (but obviously they think he is capable of working if they keep stopping his ESA) or whether they are both studying.


Also, will I still be entitled to free prescriptions and eye tests, or is that just for students 16-19 (I am over 19)?

TELLIT01

The only basis I can see for your cousin being able to return to IS with a child over 5 is that her husband is in receipt of DLA or PIP and she is claiming Carer's Allowance. Losing ESA doesn't mean he couldn't still receive DLA or PIP.

Coz

Ah right, I thought there was no such thing as DLA anymore, I thought ESA had replaced it. She did mention something about carer's allowance, but I assumed she was getting that for her dad who is living with them. Or maybe she's getting it for both of them. So that means she will be getting all 3? Income support, carer's allowance and he will be getting DLA.