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Original poster

Help!! I’m so worried!!

89 replies

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:09

Hi!

I need help and advice! I'll a single mum of three children and one has been diagnosed with ADHD. So I get carers allowance and his DLA

I am starting as a full time student on October and I have been awarded a maintenance loan, and I've been reading online that they take a huge amount of your universal credit off you because it's classed as an income even though it's a loan and you end up paying it back!

I'm soo worried about this because I don't want to be in a situation where I'm really struggling I mean I've got pay childcare top ups as it is and now I'm reading they literally take a majority of your benefits when you get the loan.

I personally think this is so unfair because it's a loan and I'm going to have to pay it back but then I don't want to take it if I'm going to worse off? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Does anyone know what sort of benefits I will get and what it don’t affect?

Someone please help me 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:11

It will depend if you claim UC or tax credits alongside your carers allowance? I beleive for Tax credits, they do not count a student loan but Uc they do. You cannot claim carers allowance when you are a full time student so that would stop. DLA obviously unaffected as that is for your child.

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:14

Sorry just seen you are on UC ! So any maintenance loan will be divided between the number of months it is designed to cover ( so usually 10 I think over the year ) and the first £110 a month of the loan each month is disregarded. After that the loan amount reduces your Uc pound for pound. certain things like childcare grants etc do not count . It is deducted as it is money you have to live off and therefore you don't get the same amount of UC. The very unfair thing is that people still on tax credits do not get it taken off their money.

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:16

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:09

Hi!

I need help and advice! I'll a single mum of three children and one has been diagnosed with ADHD. So I get carers allowance and his DLA

I am starting as a full time student on October and I have been awarded a maintenance loan, and I've been reading online that they take a huge amount of your universal credit off you because it's classed as an income even though it's a loan and you end up paying it back!

I'm soo worried about this because I don't want to be in a situation where I'm really struggling I mean I've got pay childcare top ups as it is and now I'm reading they literally take a majority of your benefits when you get the loan.

I personally think this is so unfair because it's a loan and I'm going to have to pay it back but then I don't want to take it if I'm going to worse off? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Does anyone know what sort of benefits I will get and what it don’t affect?

Someone please help me 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

Also many people never pay back their student loans. I think you have to be earning over 25 k to start paying it back. I have friends who studied 20 years ago and have never paid back a penny due to low earnings and now the loans have been written off. I guess it just can't be afforded any more.

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Benefits
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:21

So I am better off just not claiming the loan?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:25

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:21

So I am better off just not claiming the loan?

No you have to take any loan available to you, otherwise they will just treat you as if you have the loan anyway and reduce your UC exactly the same.

So basically, carers allowance will stop and UC carers element I think. Uc will reduce your student loan after the first £110 a month. You should get childcare grant and maybe other grants which won't affect your UC. Let council tax know when you become a student. I think during holidays, Uc should start to be the same again but remember payments will be one month behind as Uc is paid in arrears. Get some advice from the student welfare department of your University, they will be able to do a detailed calculation to tell you exactly how to maximise your income.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:28

It just pisses me off, you get penalised for trying to better your life? I mean why wouldn’t I get carers allowance I am still a carer to my son? That’s not changed I will just be going to university when he’s at school lmao 🤣 it’s a loan too I will have to pay it back but I’m also being out of pocket from the government too because they won’t be giving me my entitlement every month. It’s actually sickening!

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:32

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:28

It just pisses me off, you get penalised for trying to better your life? I mean why wouldn’t I get carers allowance I am still a carer to my son? That’s not changed I will just be going to university when he’s at school lmao 🤣 it’s a loan too I will have to pay it back but I’m also being out of pocket from the government too because they won’t be giving me my entitlement every month. It’s actually sickening!

It seems unfair to take Uc carers element off as people working can still get that on their claim, but maybe you can still get it, I'm not exactly sure.
I think the thing is if they didn't take it into account, they would probably have a lot more younger people ( all the 18/19 year olds ) claiming UC and waiting until they were a bit older to go to Uni to avoid paying all the maintenance loans. Like I said before though it is so unfair that those on the old system can still get tax credits and a student loan and it not affect anything. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of an outcry over the huge unfairness of this ??

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:35

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:28

It just pisses me off, you get penalised for trying to better your life? I mean why wouldn’t I get carers allowance I am still a carer to my son? That’s not changed I will just be going to university when he’s at school lmao 🤣 it’s a loan too I will have to pay it back but I’m also being out of pocket from the government too because they won’t be giving me my entitlement every month. It’s actually sickening!

You still have the UC entitlement but the overall award is reduce because you have a amount of student maintenance loan to live off.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:37

It’s just annoying as I’ve worked out if your right I’ll have nearly £1000 taken off me a month because I’ve accepted a loan that I’ve got to eventually pay back anyways 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:39

Your UC amount is likely to be pretty high if you currently get child element for 3 kids and disabled child element, so you are very likely to still get a decent amount of UC even with the student loan reducing it. Also like I said previously there are other grants etc available to you to help but I'm not sure what exactly. Many people still manage to go to Uni as mature students with kids so it must be do-able.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:43

Hmmm but I doubt it will be by the end of all this 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣 honestly it’s a joke I just hate the system! I think when your an older student with children it should be different rules because we’re not just doing this for the money ffs

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:46

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:43

Hmmm but I doubt it will be by the end of all this 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣 honestly it’s a joke I just hate the system! I think when your an older student with children it should be different rules because we’re not just doing this for the money ffs

Sorry can't agree with that. It should be fair to all. My young adult kids don't particularly want to be taking student loans and paying back 30k either.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:48

There is always others who spoil it for the rest and that’s what pisses me off.

try and better ourselves so we don’t have to claim these benefits and this is what happens and they wonder why people stay on benefits? I’m just pissed off that even though we get these loans we still don’t get any other entitlement and we have to pay it back regardless.

OP posts:
Tippexy · 07/05/2022 13:51

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:28

It just pisses me off, you get penalised for trying to better your life? I mean why wouldn’t I get carers allowance I am still a carer to my son? That’s not changed I will just be going to university when he’s at school lmao 🤣 it’s a loan too I will have to pay it back but I’m also being out of pocket from the government too because they won’t be giving me my entitlement every month. It’s actually sickening!

Is it sickening though?

if you have access to money which means you don’t need to rely on the state then why shouldn’t you use that?

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 13:54

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 13:48

There is always others who spoil it for the rest and that’s what pisses me off.

try and better ourselves so we don’t have to claim these benefits and this is what happens and they wonder why people stay on benefits? I’m just pissed off that even though we get these loans we still don’t get any other entitlement and we have to pay it back regardless.

But you will likely still get some UC ? Also child maintenance if you get that, DLA is unaffected and like I said previously there will be childcare grants etc available to you which are not taken into account. I really do think it would be beneficial for you to speak to someone from student welfare department, they will tell you exactly what you can claim and work it out for you and it may not be half as bad as you are thinking it will be. There may be some provision for a University welfare/ hardship fund for people in your situation so just ask so you know what help you can get.

blueagain · 07/05/2022 13:57

Go get advice from the university finance experts and citizens advice. Don’t fake strangers advice on here who probably have ever claimed a student loan. Get proper advice as to your entitlement. You might be able to go part time and still claim for example. Find out everything from experts.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:01

It’s sickening because if I get this loan I will be minus money because I want to go university when I could just sit on my ass all day long and keep claiming these benefits that’s what is sickening.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 07/05/2022 14:06

We'll equally you could be earning an income whilst your son is at school, you can't have it all ways.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:08

Easier said than done when your child is only at school for two hours in the morning? If I could work full time I would, if I could work part time I would. As a single mum of three and having no one help it’s impossible I’ll be paying more child care than what I earn as I’ve worked out I won’t really be better off……. So that comment is invalid.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 14:08

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:08

Easier said than done when your child is only at school for two hours in the morning? If I could work full time I would, if I could work part time I would. As a single mum of three and having no one help it’s impossible I’ll be paying more child care than what I earn as I’ve worked out I won’t really be better off……. So that comment is invalid.

UC pay up to 85% of childcare costs.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:09

I don’t choose not to work it’s just literally pointless as I won’t be earning anything extra as I’ve tried working out millions of times since splitting with my husband.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:10

I’ve worked that out too holidays I will still be paying a too up of nearly £400-450 which is quarter of the money I would earn and that’s not including all my bills and rent and food that I also need

OP posts:
Justcallmeanatm · 07/05/2022 14:32

Op you seem to want it always, do you think that every person that goes to uni goes for fun but you alone are going to better yourself
I did not know students could claim uc is this a new thing? I know when uc was first introduced students at uni could not get it. I gave up a full time job to go to uni, and we just pulled our belts in for 7 years it was a struggle

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:40

I don’t want it all just wanted some help.

I know it’s going to be a struggle the last year I’ve worked my ass off on my own going to college to pass my math and English to get this far. So I know of all people what a struggle is.

I just don’t want to have to struggle financially for going to university, meaning not being able to pay bills and stuff and end up in even more debt because of it.

im not here to argue with people wanted advice which I have got now so I will be ringing around on Monday to see what sort of situation I will be in.

OP posts:
madroid1 · 07/05/2022 14:53

@Justcallmeanatm 'we just pulled our belts in for 7 years'

That's the difference - the WE

If you're a single parent, you're so hemmed in by childcare needs and if you have no help it completely defines your life. It's hard to appreciate that until you've done it.

Which uni is it @Leanne1191 ? Some have really good advisors and hardship funds/scholarships to help in exactly this situation.