Hello! First ever post, please please help

desperate84

Thanks, will phone OU first thing tomorrow, sounds hopeful

The crb, well I am starting a degree in radiography next year and as I will be working in a hospital will be having a full CRB disclosure. I am worried if any of the creditors do put a CCJ on me, it will show up on CRB??

mrsspendalot

i don't think a CCJ would show up on a crb check as crb checks are for criminal records, and CCJs are administered through the civil court, not criminal. I may be wrong, so don't take that as 100%.

Good luck with your studies. I am just about to finish my BSc Health and Social Care with OU, and I appreciate how hard it is studying with kids (I have 3)

benbenandme

:hello: Welcome to MSE !!! I know it may not help much but once your baby is born you will get a higher amount of chld benefit for a year (I think). Have a look at the threads on mystery shopping and survey sites, again not huge amounts of money but it all helps and you may be able to do some internet surveys etc while you're pregnant. Keep posting, we're a friendly bunch here :beer:

(Land_of)_Maz

desperate84 wrote: »

The crb, well I am starting a degree in radiography next year and as I will be working in a hospital will be having a full CRB disclosure. I am worried if any of the creditors do put a CCJ on me, it will show up on CRB??

I got an NHS job which needed advanced disclosure (Scotland) and my credit was at it's worst. I really can't see how that can affect you. I'm sure a legal beagle will correct me if i'm wrong!

wordsfan

I graduated last year and am also a single mum. Yes I have debts but they're less than yours and manageable.

My advice if you're still studying is to ditch OU as essentially thats the private route.

If you go to Uni "full time" (rarely more than 4 hours lecture time in actuality), you'd be entitled to LOADS of free financial help. Not just to do with study costs either:

Student loan (for living costs - looking at your post you'd get in full and wouldn't have to start paying back til earning I think it's £15000 at mo. And even then its only like £20-30 a month out your salary which is equivalent to say leccy bill so no big deal)

Parental Living Allowance (SLC but doesn't have to be repaid)

Childcare fees paid in total (local authority)

Study allowance (for books and materials)

Travel costs (some not all uni's pay this)

Hardship Fund (apply to uni as soon as you start)

and there are charitable grants aimed at low income families and single parent families too. If you're associated with a church they can sometimes help too.

Also from your SOA - why are you not getting Income Support? And why not getting your whole Council Tax paid?

Anyway - hope this helps

wordsfan

Also your rent seems very high - a bit of a pain when you're pregnant I know, and obviously depends how far along you are and what practical support you have, but could you move somewhere cheaper? Also is ex having older child at weekends? would give you a break and cut food bill down as ex would feed him for a day or 2?

Also is he ex husband or ex boyfriend? if husband what finances has he got? cos you should be getting half in settlement and this is nothing to do with maintenance or benefits (if under £3500). If you're in England/Wales - legal aid for divorce. remember things like his pension if he has one.

wordsfan

Regards depression - been there done it and got several naff t shirts - it will and does get easier. Anyone would struggle in your situation. In a year I've gone from barely being able to leave the house and risking losing DD to working full time, working towards paying my debts and being more content than I have been in years. Not saying its been easy, I still have off days, but getting there.

toffeepennys

surely if you are no longer with your husband then your tax credits can no longer be taken in to account with him

check out www.singleparents.org.uk

they give you great info on extra money and grants available

congratulations on making your first step to sorting it all out, soon you will have a beautiful new baby, and a fantastic new career.

your children will grow up proud of all you have acheived!!!

chevalier

Not sure what I can add except that checking things out with the OU would be a start. If they refunded you your fees, then you could knock the lesser credit card on the head, and would also be saving the £50 a month. You may have to prove your change of circumstances, ie photocopy benefit entitlement letter to send off to them, but is worth a shot.

Are any of the debts joint with your ex OH and if so does he contribute to paying them off?
chev

mrsspendalot

Wordsfan - I disagree about OU being essentially a private route. For some it is the only option. I couldn't have gone to a brick uni because of childcare. I have done my degree with OU and it hasn't cost me a penny because i have been entitled to full funding. That has saved me getting into thousands of £ in student debt to add to my current debts. It has been a life line to me. If you are entitled to funding and are interested in the degrees they offer, then why get into debt for something you can get for free?