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Income support for student couples with children??

angelcake89
Posts: 102 Forumite
My husband and I are looking into becoming full time students at college in September to do an access to higher education course. I've been given the impression that we'd qualify for income support from the direct.gov website but I've spoken to the job centre and the CAB and no one seems to know whether we'd be eligible to claim. Which isn't particularly helpful really.
This is part of the website that leads me to believe we'd be eligible
Any experience or knowledge on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
This is part of the website that leads me to believe we'd be eligible
Full-time students
Although most full-time higher education students are not entitled to income-related benefits, certain groups may be able to make a claim.
The full rules are listed in the Income Support and Housing Benefit regulations. But as a general guide, you may be able to claim income-related benefits if you:
are a lone parent
have a partner who is also a student - and one or both of you are responsible for a child
have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium, severe disability premium or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
If you have a partner who is not a student and they’re eligible for any income-related benefits, your partner can claim on behalf of you both.
Any experience or knowledge on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments
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Student advisors are the best people, ie those inhouse at the college. I know I am going to get certain things as a LONE parent but the rules for parents who are both parents are different. You could get income support if your income doesn't go over the weekly applicable amount but I don't know how it works for your course. Best thing is to get an appointment with the student advisors at the collegeMoney money money.
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I did phone the college and no one seemed to know which did surprise me. They just told me to speak to the job centre, who also didn't know.0
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Access courses lack funding which is why I've decided to do a joint honours with a foundation year. As I found out that I would only be able to get £30 a week as a learning support grant.
My advise is to check thestudentrooms as they can help and advise with this sort of stuff.
And btw colleges can get funding quieries incorrect. I was told that because I lived for a year in the Netherlands I was counted as an eu student....utter bull :P0 -
Access courses lack funding which is why I've decided to do a joint honours with a foundation year. As I found out that I would only be able to get £30 a week as a learning support grant.
My advise is to check thestudentrooms as they can help and advise with this sort of stuff.
And btw colleges can get funding quieries incorrect. I was told that because I lived for a year in the Netherlands I was counted as an eu student....utter bull :P
Can I just ask your situation? Do you have children? A partner, if so are they working/unemployed/also a student??0 -
angelcake89 wrote: »Can I just ask your situation? Do you have children? A partner, if so are they working/unemployed/also a student??
No, I am 25 and single (well gf lives in Germany) and I have no children. I attended an access the HE information event at Derby University which gave information about the lack of maintiance funding for access courses which is because Access to HE is foundation course.
It was generally accepted that the student would be supported by their partner through the year of the course. Even I as a singleton who doesnt want kids find this unfair to those who should be given a second chance.
Only thing I can suggest is for one to study and the other to work and when one goes to university (if over 25) you can get at least 7k to support yourselfs.0 -
angelcake89 wrote: »My husband and I are looking into becoming full time students at college in September to do an access to higher education course. I've been given the impression that we'd qualify for income support from the direct.gov website but I've spoken to the job centre and the CAB and no one seems to know whether we'd be eligible to claim. Which isn't particularly helpful really.
This is part of the website that leads me to believe we'd be eligible
Any experience or knowledge on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
The quotation you've given refers to HE students and Access isn't an HE course.
You need to make an appointment to see someone in Student Services/Welfare who should be able to advise you but you would really be better to stagger going to college so that one of you works and supports the other one while on Access.0 -
Oldernotwiser wrote: »The quotation you've given refers to HE students and Access isn't an HE course.
You need to make an appointment to see someone in Student Services/Welfare who should be able to advise you but you would really be better to stagger going to college so that one of you works and supports the other one while on Access.
Thank you that's quite helpful. Unfortunately neither of us earn enough to support the other and we don't earn enough individually to support both of us.
I did try the college and was told no one would be able to advise us. I'll go back in on Tuesday or Wednesday and see if I can find anyone to talk to.
I didn't know access courses didn't count as higher education as I thought higher education was level 3 qualifications and from what I've read the access course was a level 3 course.0 -
angelcake89 wrote: »Thank you that's quite helpful. Unfortunately neither of us earn enough to support the other and we don't earn enough individually to support both of us.
I did try the college and was told no one would be able to advise us. I'll go back in on Tuesday or Wednesday and see if I can find anyone to talk to.
I didn't know access courses didn't count as higher education as I thought higher education was level 3 qualifications and from what I've read the access course was a level 3 course.
How many children do you have angelcake? You may be able to manage on 1 income + working tax credits/child tax credits.
Also most Access courses are only 3-4 days a week. Many (if not most) Access students do work the rest of the week to support themselves.0 -
I have 2 children, the eldest is 21 months and the youngest is just under 3 months old now. I think if we were both working part time on low incomes we might be able to get local housing allowance. I don't know it's all a bit confusing.
Also I just realised that of course access courses aren't higher education they're further education. Silly me!0 -
angelcake89 wrote: »I have 2 children, the eldest is 21 months and the youngest is just under 3 months old now. I think if we were both working part time on low incomes we might be able to get local housing allowance. I don't know it's all a bit confusing.
Also I just realised that of course access courses aren't higher education they're further education. Silly me!
Even if you only manage 16 hours work [for one of you] per week, the tax credits with 2 children should be a reasonable amount to live on. (you could get a higher wtc amount if you work more than 30 hours - 1 partner must work more than 16 hours).
As a student couple you should also be exempt from council tax.
Housing benefit is a bit more complex - hopefully someone else who knows the rules about student couples and housing benefit will be able to help!
Hope it works out for you:):):):)0
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