Dh going to uni aged 58 - worried about money!

This! His capabilities seem at odds with what I would expect given he receives PIP for the FND. I’ve lived with MS for a while. I had to give up employed work eventually. Not because of the physical limitations as there are workarounds for these now, but due to fatigue & cog fog. My brain just doesn’t function like it used to. Is he being realistic about being able to manage the intensity of studying?

He's been a high-earning IT professional and yet you are still renting in your 50s and he has no pension? There has to be a back story to this.

FWIW I've known several people who've obtained psychology degrees in later life, hoping to work in the profession. Some have done three-year courses, some conversion courses. I also know a couple of professional psychologists — clinical and educational — working at the top of their profession. None of the older psychology graduates has managed to get into the profession and as far as I'm aware none is working in a related area at the moment, though one has gone on to psychotherapy training and another was in learning support for a couple of universities but has since been made redundant. My psychologist friends say that older graduates are less attractive because the lengthy post-grad training often means they only have a limited time practising once qualified. And many older graduates don't have the science and maths background that's required for clinical work.

I did a psychology degree, graduated in 2021 (I was 30). It was a verrrrrry intense workload, a lot of essays.

There was 25 in my class, only one went on to work in the field. Three started masters but dropped out (myself included!)

I really wouldn’t recommend. Most jobs in the field require post grad or further training, and are very competitive as the market is oversaturated with psychology grads. The degree needs to be BPS accredited or he’ll need to do a further conversion course, FYI.

He diesn't need a Psychology degree for Business Coaching.
He needs a lot of hands on Business related experience, a great network, Sales and marketing skills and a LOT of energy and tenacity.
So aside from the costs of the degree and financing your lives while he does it his plan for a career afterwards are pretty unrealistic

I believe that students can work up to 20 hours per week & during the holidays

If your DM & parents are state pension age & have health issues apply for this

It is not means tested

https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

If he doesn’t have a degree he will get student finance and possibly hardship funding until he’s 60. He’s at least ten years from pension age. If it gives him more skills and qualifications I’d say go for it.

It's obvious you as a family can't afford for him to take three years out of work

He’s out of work now. And has been for three years.

It's obvious you as a family can't afford for him to take three years out of work to a degree and it's odd he can't see this. Is he aware of the forthcoming changes to the PIP assessment? Has he talked to you about how AI could negatively impact him after he finishes the degree? And as mentioned by a PP, he won't be eligible for a maintenance loan once he reaches 60. Studying part-time whilst working full-time would be a sensible compromise, but even then I would make sure he does his homework about the likelihood of gaining a relevant job after graduating. His current planned subject doesn't seem worthwhile studying at degree level.

I get PIP despite working from home, but I do use different equipment to help my arthritic hands. So as long as he is using different equipment/and or given reasonable adjustments this shouldn't be an issue. Its how the conditition affects them on a daily care/mobility basis, not whether they can work or study.

Possibly a recent graduate with life experience? Teaching has moved swiftly on since I graduated 30 years ago, but the government seem keen on getting older teachers back into schools.

He’s too old to get a job in that field imo. The training takes years

I meant unemployable in the sense of finding an employer willing to give him a job. IT moves fast so he’s lost his currency in that field. There are younger people with recent experience who will be his competition for jobs - who will a prospective employer go for?

I work in HE and most people doing degrees are finishing the academic year around now, nowhere near school holiday season.

If DD is only entitled to minimum loan (which sounds likely if you are looking at £5k top up), then DH will only get minimum (unless he can prove he is so disabled that he can get the special top up). DSA dies not provide money, just equipment, mentors etc.
Council tax reduction will only last until eldest child turns 18. CT exemption can only be claimed in one location so if DD student exemption is used at home she would have to pay CT at her student accommodation.

1 in 6 adults are economically inactive, PIP is being cut back, and I imagine OP’s DH would rather be doing graduate work than the alternatives available. I know people with FND who are employed with support from Access to Work. It might be worth remembering that any of us could acquire a seizure disorder before writing someone off as “unemployable”.

How about a dog walking business?

Remember that the government is on a mission to get disabled people off PIP and into employment. It’s currently possible to get both PIP and a maintenance loan. Once he has a job offer he can receive support through Access to Work.

If you’ve got a workplace. What part of he’s unemployable are you failing to comprehend?

Access to work will provide that for the workplace too

FFS. Im sorry for him. But no.

DH could access disabled students’ allowance which would come with talk-type software and training on how to use it. An online degree might be a better option, depending on how often he has seizures.

Would he not be better in setting up something as a VA? With his I.T experience he could easily be niche depending on what area he was working in. He could pick up and drop work as and when he is struggling. Wouldn't necessarily need to use his hands as much depending on what he took on. He then could develop the coaching side alongside it whilst he has an income coming in to fund it. Plus pick up ADHD qualifications and offer the coaching that way.

If he hasn't worked for 3 years this won't make any difference and if he gets a maintenance loan might increase his income?
Dd can get loans as well
If she only gets minimum loans then you are earning over x amount .
You are much younger right? So being the employee and wage earner longer is a given?
If his course keeps him engaged and busy is a good thing

You need to sit down with him and look at the finances.

He will be eligible for a loan if he does not have a degree already, if he does then he can get funding for part time study.

Council tax will reduce as you will be classed as a single person.

There are charitable trusts that have grants for people retraining, it is hard work applying but I got money from several while I was at uni.