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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:
madroid1 · 07/05/2022 14:54

Don't give up. Find out how they can make it possible for you. It's not your fault you are in this situation and you are doing massively well to get to the point of uni. Keep going.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:56

its Essex university. I just worry about it all because I don’t want to struggle. I just hope I don’t end up in a very difficult way and have to end up pulling out. Nursing has been my dream since I was 25 (6 years ago) I’m also doing it so my children can look up too me too and I can eventually afford to do things with them and make memories without having to constantly say I don’t have the money. 😔😫

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:57

Thank you! 😘

OP posts:

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Benefits
Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 15:00

Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 14:56

its Essex university. I just worry about it all because I don’t want to struggle. I just hope I don’t end up in a very difficult way and have to end up pulling out. Nursing has been my dream since I was 25 (6 years ago) I’m also doing it so my children can look up too me too and I can eventually afford to do things with them and make memories without having to constantly say I don’t have the money. 😔😫

Nursing courses may mean you can claim bursaries also although I'm not exactly sure how they affect UC but I think there is more help than other courses.

HMRCaudit · 07/05/2022 15:01

Well done for getting so far and chasing your dream. Don’t give up hope and try and work out all your options too. Talk to the University there maybe additional funding and grants you can apply for. You are still so young and even if it takes a couple of more years planning and saving you will be an asset to the nursing profession 🌈

Justcallmeanatm · 07/05/2022 15:01

madroid1
We meant me and my son and he was 14 when I went to uni and I was still at uni when he started uni. We did not have it easy financially but we got by

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 15:14

I’ve seen scholarships and bursaries but I’ll have to look into those too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 15:16

I will do I will ring them Monday and see what else there is and look into it. Thank you I think I will be an asset to the NHS too! I will achieve it some how but I just need to make sure I can financially support my children while I do it because I don’t want it effecting them as it will in the long run if I’m stressed and worried and down as well as not affording bills and normal daily things.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 15:17

With you and your son it was team work! And in the long run it’s paid off? Bless ya, life is one big struggle isn’t it? But I’m not quitting this easy I will look into every corner before I wave my white flag.

OP posts:
Beetr00t · 07/05/2022 15:29

Hey OP, I hear your annoyance and that's ok. You won't be worse off though- just around the same as you are now- which is fair really. They'll take away what you'll be getting in the loan. You will have to pay 15% of your childcare costs so it'll take some budgeting to manage.

BUT don't despair please, I went to uni as a single parent 10 years ago and we were sooooo skint and yet it was the best thing I've ever done, I now have a decent career and earn a million times more than I could ever have done without going to uni!

Also I got a hardship fund from uni of £1-2k each year which I used for the childcare.

Good luck!

roarfeckingroarr · 07/05/2022 15:32

Sorry OP but I have limited sympathy. You have the privilege of further education, which is hugely subsidised by government despite fees, and get a great terms loan buy you want more free money? Do you not think taxpayers are probably a bit fed up of funding elective tertiary education AND UC?

dolphinsarentcommon · 07/05/2022 15:36

I'm a bit confused about why you think you should be better off because you're going to uni. I would agree you should be supported to go, but you shouldn't be better off, that day will come when you're earning a higher wage (hopefully)

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 15:42

dolphinsarentcommon · 07/05/2022 15:36

I'm a bit confused about why you think you should be better off because you're going to uni. I would agree you should be supported to go, but you shouldn't be better off, that day will come when you're earning a higher wage (hopefully)

I think it's more that op just thinks she should keep all her benefits and not take a student loan like every other student.

MandUs · 07/05/2022 16:01

As a 3rd year nursing student with DC myself I'm wondering what your plans are for childcare?

You say that you only have 2 hours each morning without children. How do you think this will fit in with university and placements where you are required to follow a 24/7 shift pattern?

I'm not saying don't study nursing but I can tell you that you will need bombproof childcare in place.

The blocks of uni are also more labour intensive than most other degrees as a lot is packed into a short amount of time to allow time for placements.

You also don't get the usual long student holidays. It's 6 weeks a year and for me, apart from Christmas, these weeks didn't overlap with the school holidays.

These are all things you need to plan for in order to have a chance to be successful with a nursing degree.

MandUs · 07/05/2022 16:03

About the money aspect, all nursing students I know need to work part time along side their studies. This includes people with children.

On the plus side, opportunities for extra money are easy to come by as we all joined the NHS staff bank working as healthcare assistants after our first placement.

AReallyUsefulEngine · 07/05/2022 16:06

Why is DC only at school for 2 hours a day? Do they have an EHCP and are the LA providing education in the afternoons?

dolphinsarentcommon · 07/05/2022 16:08

Do you have child care sorted for when you're on placements OP? Weekends, evenings, bank holidays?

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:40

Blah blah blah tax payers I used to be a tax payer thank you very much! I worked 4-5 nights a week when I was married so actually I’m not expecting just handouts I’m wanting a little help so I don’t have to rely on benefits anymore as unfortunately for me my marriage broke down and I had no choice but to claim them again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:40

I am thinking of not taking this maintenance loan if honest

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:42

Trust me I’ve reasearched this for a long time I know exactly what child care I need and what I’m going to have to do in the three years and how much child care I need I’ve not gone into this blind 🙄

honestly just wanted advice not bloody lectures from miss/mr know it’s alls ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:43

I am currently registered with two NHS trusts for bank work and I do a shift every other weekend as that’s all I can do….. 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:44

I’m currently in the process of applying for an EHCP because of his needs and behaviour they are thinking of a residential school 😫😬 which I’m not happy about but what can I do me and the school have had meeting after meetings and he’s just not coping I’m a mainstream school.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 07/05/2022 16:45

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.

So what is the point in going to university to 'better yourself' if you can't work?

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:46

Yes I have sorted this, my sister said will help me with this too. The only other thing I think I can do if this doesn’t work out properly and so I don’t end up in loads of debt after is doing an online course then I won’t have to pay back or even get a maintenance loan. 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:49

What sort of comment is that? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

im going to university because it’s 4 days a week in the first year 10-4pm so I can sort child care out for the first year and work on the next year, honestly if you have nothing nice to say then please don’t comment I don’t need people being judgemental and nasty when you do not fully understand my situation and why I am in it.

I simplest way of saying this is I want a career and trying my hardest to do this so I don’t have to rely on benefits plus I want a career and want to be able to do something with my life…. 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
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