Taking a sabbatical to study full time

wilko_1984

Hi all,

I plan to take an unpaid sabbatical from my current employer starting at the end of September and I'll study full time for a masters during this time.

I will have had the benefit of my salary for half of the tax year (April - Sep) and I won't work for the rest of the next tax year, or the first half of the year after.

I am in my 30's, a home-owner and my wife is a stay at home mum to our 2 children.

Does anyone have any feedback on the benefits and grants which might be available?

Thanks,

robpw2

you might be able to get a student loan for the masters course
https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

BorisThomson

By September you'll more than likely need to claim Universal Credit. That will take into account both income from your student finance, and any capital/ assets you have. Depending on the age of your children, your wife may be expected to seek work.

sangie595

wilko_1984 wrote: »

Hi all,

I plan to take an unpaid sabbatical from my current employer starting at the end of September and I'll study full time for a masters during this time.

I will have had the benefit of my salary for half of the tax year (April - Sep) and I won't work for the rest of the next tax year, or the first half of the year after.

I am in my 30's, a home-owner and my wife is a stay at home mum to our 2 children.

Does anyone have any feedback on the benefits and grants which might be available?

Thanks,

You have a job. You have decided to voluntarily take a year out without pay. So you saved up to do that, and to support your own wife and children and home for that time? You didn't expect taxpayers to pay for your sabbitical and qualification, wife and children and home? Problem solved.

[Deleted User]

sangie595 wrote: »

You have a job. You have decided to voluntarily take a year out without pay. So you saved up to do that, and to support your own wife and children and home for that time? You didn't expect taxpayers to pay for your sabbitical and qualification, wife and children and home? Problem solved.

Or someone is looking to better themselves and is seeking advice on how the benefits system might help them and their family whilst they do just that.

Please try your best to give positive help to posters and be nice to them, otherwise people get put off asking for our help.
Thanks

Darksparkle

What age are children? Could your partner not work around your studying?

Alice_Holt

Darksparkle wrote: »

What age are children? Could your partner not work around your studying?

And could you just reduce your working hours, and combine that with study?
Is there a distance learning masters (OU) you could take whilst working?

If you plan to claim UC (depends on postcode), with 2 claimants in the household not working, you will run foul of the UC claimant commitment:
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Claimant-Commitment-Conditionality
- and may face sanctions.
Since CTC is subsumed into UC - the UC equivalent of CTC then may not be paid to you.

I would be very wary of giving up earning to study, particularly if you partner is not working and you may have to resort to benefits.
Additionally, being away from the workplace for so long may not be sensible - re-structuring, deskilling, losing contacts, etc.
How certain are you that their will be a job to return to? Once out of the workplace, it can be very difficult to return to an equivalent post (even with a masters).
Much better to get sponsorship from your company and continue working (part time) IMO. I assume the masters is related to your career? Are there any professional qualifications that may be more useful?
With UC the benefits landscape is in flux, so it is difficult to offer any concrete benefit advice, if you haven't got savings set aside for this period - you may be embarking on a very tricky and uncharted path for your family.

FBaby

*Or someone is looking to better themselves and is seeking advice on how the benefits system might help them and their family whilst they do just that.*
I know quite a few people working FT in professional jobs who've taken on Masters by studying PT around their job, including one single mum of two children. It's tough, stressful, but if you are so committed to better your career your find a way.

Anyway, I expect OP will find that the system is not too supportive of such choices.

wilko_1984

Thanks for feedback all. I can afford to support myself and my family without the need for government support, I am simply enquiring as to whether I have entitlement.

Darksparkle

More details would be needed of your circumstances to be able to tell you what you’d be entitled to and also if you’re in a UC area.

tboo

wilko_1984 wrote: »

Hi all,

I plan to take an unpaid sabbatical from my current employer starting at the end of September and I'll study full time for a masters during this time.

I will have had the benefit of my salary for half of the tax year (April - Sep) and I won't work for the rest of the next tax year, or the first half of the year after.

I am in my 30's, a home-owner and my wife is a stay at home mum to our 2 children.

Does anyone have any feedback on the benefits and grants which might be available?

Thanks,

wilko_1984 wrote: »

Thanks for feedback all. I can afford to support myself and my family without the need for government support, I am simply enquiring as to whether I have entitlement.

Council tax reduction of 25% - council tax support for the rest is possible but your capital, tax credits and loans - if any etc, are taken into account.
£16000 is the limit to claim.