Going to Uni as a carer

Skeptical_John

I'm a carer on carers' allowance for an elderly parent. I've worked really hard and will be taking some a-levels this summer (privately funded). I would really like to go to uni and have had a couple of offers however I really don't know how affordable it will be.

I will lose the carers' allowance but I will still be doing 30-40 hours a week care so will not be able to get any part time work. I've read about the adult dependents grant but this seems exceptionally difficult to get, the person relies on me more for care than finance (though I do help out).

No Unis seem to help with this either...

Jackieboy

Have you considered studying with the Open University?

Skeptical_John

Jackieboy wrote: »

Have you considered studying with the Open University?

You lose the allowance even for that (unless you did it over 6 years but then you dont get help with tuition fees). Really feels like a welfare gap.
I think my only hope is to get a uni place which helps people from low income backgrounds.

FutureGirl

You do get help with tuition fee's if you do OU over 6 years.

vlad

As you need to stay at home at home (I assume) you will need a local uni, remember that you will get a substantial loan plus bursary, maybe a chat with social services to see what help if any they can offer with care? Could your parent even pay for some help using their AA or DLA?

silvercar

Most students rely on the student maintenance loan, any reason you couldn't do this, especially as living at home will mean no rent to pay?

Feyfangirl

Unfortunately this was the problem for me I found, I ended up getting sick myself, so had to drop out of uni, and had to cut back on the hours of care I do for my relative, as also I had to give rent money to my parents, I wish you luck

Skeptical_John

Thanks for the replies.

Could I survive on the loan alone? Probably. But that's all it would be: surviving. At the moment I get about 4.5k from carers allowance and earn about that again with part time work and I can just about get by with a marginal social life of going out once every other week and a cheap holiday once a year. Yes I could cut all that but doing nothing else for three years a life that does not make.

One of the places does a 2k scholarship which I think I would get if (and it's a big if) I can get in there then I would be ok.

Jackieboy

Skeptical_John wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Could I survive on the loan alone? Probably. But that's all it would be: surviving. At the moment I get about 4.5k from carers allowance and earn about that again with part time work and I can just about get by with a marginal social life of going out once every other week and a cheap holiday once a year. Yes I could cut all that but doing nothing else for three years a life that does not make.

One of the places does a 2k scholarship which I think I would get if (and it's a big if) I can get in there then I would be ok.

But you wouldn't be doing nothing for 3 years - you'd have the pleasure of studying during that time.

Studying full time as well as caring for 35 is going to leave you no time for a social life or holidays anyway - there are only so many hours in the day!

Finefoot

Have a search on the internet for educational grants to see if you can apply for any of them.

pearl123

The Open University is well worth looking into if you have caring responsibilities.