Lone Parent Advice on help available?

lilacclaire

Hi, I am a lone parent to a 3 year old boy.
I currently work full time and hate my job.
I am hoping to return to full time education in Aug/Sep.
Does anyone know what kind of financial help I would receive.
I am currently a council tenant, would I receive any help with rent/council tax etc.
Thanks in advance, I am currently a debt collector (shudder), so if I can assist anyone else please feel free to ask.
Thanks in advance.

Oldernotwiser

What level of study would you be thinking about doing?

lilacclaire

Hi, starting on an NC and hopefully and HNC the following year.

Oldernotwiser

As a lone parent you're able to give up paid employment and live on benefits. (IS/HB/CTB etc). When you're on means tested benefits you'll be able to do many courses without paying tuition fees but you wouldn't get anything extra for maintenance as you have the benefits to live on. You won't get much extra funding for childcare as this has been cut back but I think you're eligible for some free anyway. All this would be true if studying the NC full or part time and part time for the HNC. Things become more complicated if you do the HNC full time as this comes under the higher education funding umbrella and consists of taking out student loans/bursaries etc which can be topped up by benefits is necessary.

What subject do you plan to study?

spidyem_frued

also you may be able to apply for community care grant in case your apppliances go on the blink...you never know...trying to find 300 can be difficult on bennies...
spids

Nickynoo1

Hi,
I'm a lone parent to a 2 yr old and will be starting a degree in sept. The best thing to do is to set up an appointment with the student finace office at the uni/college who will give you all the info you need. I didn't think i would be able to afford to do it but it turns out i'd be better off!! Bizzare (although i do have to pay it back)

To give you an idea this is approx what i'll be entitled to (BTW I have a mortgage on property so no Housing Benefit for me).

Student Loan 4625
Maintenance grant 2835
parents learning allowance 1470
Uni bursary 1200
Child tax credit 1968
child benefit 778.30
Childcare grant - 85% of child care costs - up to £149 per week
Access to learning (direct from university funds) 3500
Uni Support (direct from uni funds) 1946
Council tax not payable for full time higher ed students

I dont think your in exactly the same position as me but i hope this gives you some idea to show that it is possible.

Nickynoo1

lilacclaire

Thanks everyone, its all so confusing.
I've got an appointment with a lone parent advisor tommorow after work, so hopefully they will be able to help.
I've not had my interview at the college yet, so hopefully they will be able to help as well.
Im going to go for it anyway.
Im going to study Social Care, i'm hoping to work with adults with learning disabilities.

lilacclaire

Oh and Nickynoo, what happens during the holidays?
Do you still get money, or do you need to work?

Claire_A_2

Hi,
I'm in my final yr of a 3 year Diploma in Midwifery Studies and became a lone parent half way through the course. My advice to you would be to speak to your local council about housing benefit and also, once you are on a course speak to Inland Revenue re: Child Tax Credits. I receive both as although i get an NHS bursary each month, this is not counted as earnings. If you work 16 hours a week or more on top of your studies, i think you are entitled to Working Families Tax Credit. I also receive a substantial reduction in my Council Tax credit as a student and lone parent. Once you are on a course, it would be worth looking into whether your local Council offer any schemes which provide reductions in Leisure facilities eg; swimmimng etc. Ours does and myself and 2 children can use our local Leisure Centre at a really good reduced rate. A lot of this info you might not be able to find out definite figures for until you actually have a confirmed place on a course or even till you have started but its all fairly quickly sorted out once you have.
Good luck with future studies, its been really hard but so worth it, especially as i've just been offered a job at my local maternity unit as a qualified midwife in September!!

Claire

lilacclaire wrote: »

Hi, I am a lone parent to a 3 year old boy.
I currently work full time and hate my job.
I am hoping to return to full time education in Aug/Sep.
Does anyone know what kind of financial help I would receive.
I am currently a council tenant, would I receive any help with rent/council tax etc.
Thanks in advance, I am currently a debt collector (shudder), so if I can assist anyone else please feel free to ask.
Thanks in advance.

lilacclaire

Excellent, well done:beer:

Im just worried about having enough to live on.

Do you know if you get help with travel expenses?

My wee one is due to start his free nursery place in August, so childcare costs should be cut right down anyway.

I guess I won't know until i've spoke to the jobcentre and college, it would be nice to know beforehand though (I like to plan)

Nickynoo1

Hi Lilacclaire,
The child tax credits, child benefits and childcare grant are paid over 52 weeks. All the student loans etc are paid in 3 instalments over the year. When i went to the student finance they devided it by 43 weeks to give me a weekly figure. But then i took the total figure and devided it over 52 weeks just to make sure I had enough should I not find or want to work over the holidays. And if I dont find work i can apply for income support throughout the summer. Any funds from IS or working I haven't included in my figures. This will help support my placement year abroad.

My idea is to open a totally separate account for the loans, grants and tax credits to go into. Whatever the total figure for the year is for this lot, devide by 12 and send 12 monthly instalments to my current account. I'm hoping this will work.

Nickynoo1