Dh going to uni aged 58 - worried about money!

No-one at the universities had stopped to say that this maybe wasn't the best course of action for her in the long term? And this situation is very, very common.

She’s an adult, isn’t she, so can make her own decisions? I’m doing my third degree (paid for with a student loan). I’ve still got student loan debt from my Masters. I’ll never pay it all off and I couldn’t care less. The instalments every month aren’t exactly onerous, so it’s all good.

I met someone who had the normal student loan debt, had paid for a Masters, and was also self-funding an "interesting" PhD with loans and working part time at minimum wage.

That’s a perfectly reasonable choice, presumably they weren’t asking you to fund it?

They aren't 'merely saying' anything - they are throwing insults at a person who isn't working because they have a diagnosed neurological disorder.

I hope you or anyone close to you never has to face these problems - much less when the world is full of people who think those with disabilities are selfish unless they work.

With degrees at present, even able-bodied 20 year olds should be strongly considering if they're actually worth the time and effort and opportunity cost!

Universities are desperate for fees so they are giving the hard sell on a lot of courses with pipe dreams of guaranteed 60k jobs at the end....then they'll do a hard sell on a cash cow Masters degree....Acceptance means nothing.

It's genuinely frightening and horrifying and unethical seeing how vulnerable people who can't afford it (quite often ND or with MH issues or from underprivileged backgrounds) are being coerced into pursuing their "intellectual dreams" and screwing up their financial future.

There's so much out there online, if you're interested in X topic you could find numerous free high level resources or online discussion groups.

I met someone who had the normal student loan debt, had paid for a Masters, and was also self-funding an "interesting" PhD with loans and working part time at minimum wage.

No-one at the universities had stopped to say that this maybe wasn't the best course of action for her in the long term? And this situation is very, very common.

Sorry @Meowsmol but I think calling it a vanity project is really unfair.

He is obviously trying to look at ways he can get back into work. And whilst this may not be the right route for you as a family it is highly unkind to dismiss it in those terms.

@EcoChica1980 I'm sorry you feel that way but I really don't see it that way - I see posters merely saying if he is capable of working, he should be.

If he is OK to walk dogs twice a day, clean the house and be left alone for the whole day, then there will be some sort of work he can manage even if it's just a couple of half days a week, dog walking, light admin, virtual PA . It might not be desk based earning mega bucks but any adult of working age who is capable of working, should be bloody working to the best of their abilities. No one is saying he might not need topping up with benefits and presumably there might be times he can't work (which is when benefits should be far easier to increase/decrease) but right now, he needs to be bringing in money not spending it on pipedreams.

Check out jobs at civil service or local supermarkets. Money is what's needed. The older DC could be getting a part time job too.

I've gone through some of the replies here and I really can't believe how ignorant some of them are.

OP's husband has a brain illness that gives him seizures and makes his body shake. He can't hold down the senior job he once held. But presumeably his illness now also means nothing involving a computer. No driving. No caring roles.

Does that mean there are no jobs whatsover he could do? Maybe not, but I'm not going to blame someone in his position for not working. Many people do not work with far less wrong with them.

Yet the responses here? 'Selfish'. 'Self-indulgent twat'. 'Manchild'. 'Tough shit'.

The attitude to disabled people completely stinks.

So he's got a brain disese that means his hands tremor and he has seizures - yet you think he's 'taking the piss' and a 'manchild'.

How would you cope with such disabilities?

I might be missing something but is it right that he doesnlt work at the moment? Is he able to work at all?

If he isn't/can't, and if his studying can be paid for with loans are only repaid as a proprtion of his future earnings, then what is the additional financial cost of him studying?

@Meowsmol I think it would be worth at least looking into it, with an open mind, as to what the financial impact would be while your DH was studying.

You might be financially better off, just the same, or worse off, but I don’t think you have all the information yet to make the decision.

I realise there are separate questions about whether you feel he should be working instead, but at least find out the financial facts first. And remember, any student loan he was eligible for is very unlikely to have to be repaid.

Food for thought- if he could study and increase the household income at the same time (because of student finance), how would you feel about it?

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/budget-planning/

You need to sit down and have a grown conversation about budgets. (See budget planner)

Would doing the course part-time be an option?

Might be worth asking whether any conversion course providers would be willing to consider his professional qualifications as equivalent to a degree.

In this instance it’s unlikely there will ever be any repayment. This man will be receiving a state pension in ten years time - currently about £20k below the threshold for repayment.

Also, they are no longer written off at 60.

Repayment plan 5
Any loan plus interest remaining 40 years after you’re due to start making repayments will be cancelled.

(although you don't make payments until you reach the salary threshold).

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-loans-england-plan-5/

Please ensure you do your own research, there is a lot of incorrect info on this thread.

I don't think this is correct. I was a 'mature' student, at over 25 they count your partners income when working out your maintenance loan if they are part of the same household. I was only eligible for the minimum due to my husband's salary.

edited to add this link from student finance just to show it is based on household, not individual income regardless if you are a typical student or an adult (over 25 for student finance purposes).

What about disabled student allowance is that something he might also qualify for?

He won’t be assessed on household income. Because of his age he’ll be assessed as a single person. £11k a year. Which will never have to be repaid.

Are you suggesting he maxes out the maintenance loan and then aged 60 plus he won't have to pay it back? I guess that's an idea..

Where did you get £11K from?
Maintenance loan for living at home in England is a max of around £8.8k, but OP has said she would need to top up her DD by about £5k, so assume she qualifies for only near minimum loan. DH would also be assessed on the same household income, so near minimum of £3.9k

Sense at last. And the maintenance element of his student finance will make the household a taxfree £11k better off.

If he can study for a degree he can almost certainly find some sort of paid work

That's not right. Dd will.be counted as living in her uni accommodation not home if she lives away, you don't get counted as living in two places, even if you come home for the holidays.

I’m not sure I’m understanding the financial side. He’s not been working for 3 years already, so you must be “managing” on current income. Or have you been limping along on the assumption he’ll be able to get work? If so, does he know that?

If the choice is between him not working and staying at home, or not working and studying, surely studying is better even if it were only to benefit his quality of life. That is of course assuming “help with the cost” covers all costs of him attending the course.

Unfortunately I agree with this 100%
He is taking a piss and downgraded himself from a man to a manchild. Now you have 3 children and you're supporting this family on your own. Difficult situation to be in.
As pp suggested I would sit him down and tell him you can't stretch to support two students and DD's degree is a priority here whether he likes it or not.