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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:
WalkingOnSonshine · 07/05/2022 16:50

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 🤦🏼‍♀️

It does feel like you’ve gone in blind, bearing in mind you didn’t realise the impact on your benefits.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:52

No I haven’t. I didn’t even think I would get a maintenance loan I worked everything out on my benefits themself.

I’m not even replying anymore. I’ve literally had enough of the comments from people when I’ve asked for help and advice.

see you all later 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
FAQs · 07/05/2022 16:54

Don’t give up @Leanne1191 when we were looking at Universities for my daughter we attended a few finance lectures and a mum who came with her young children to study nursing asked about finance and the Uni (Kingston) mentioned bursaries and hard ship funds to plug any lost finance, she asked lots of questions on it for the same reasons.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:55

Hardly free money too when I’ve got to pay all this back once I earn over 27k 🤣🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
MandUs · 07/05/2022 16:56

People have actually been trying to be helpful.

We just raised the childcare issue as you said you only had a couple of hours a day without your children. About a third of my cohort have dropped out since we started and not being fully aware of what commitment is required has been one of the main reasons.

You clearly did not research what you have to do in detail or you wouldn't have to ask about the finances on here. Honestly, people just meant well but you come across as quite entitled and rude.

Good luck with it all. You will not have a choice in whether you take the student loan or not.

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 16:57

I’m literally just being hammered from everyone hun, I’m asking for advice and help from people on here and all I’m getting is I’m this and I’m that. If I could work I would I hate being in benefits but I don’t have a choice. I am now looking at studying and have worked everything out in regards to child care and stuff when I’ve got placements and stuff I’ve researched all the main stuff. I was just worrying about this loan because I don’t want to be financially fucked for three years and not be able to pay bills and cloth and feed my children 🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

OP posts:
AReallyUsefulEngine · 07/05/2022 16:58

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.

While going through the EHCNA process if DS cannot attend full time the LA should be making alternative arrangements under s.19 of the Education Act 1996. It would be unusual for LAs to jump to residential before trying a day placement at a SS.

Will you get the parents learning allowance on top of the normal maintenance loan?

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 17:02

I’ve not come across as entitled and rude! 🤦🏼‍♀️

yes for now I have that issue which me and the school are sorting out as he can’t always be doing two hours a day obviously.

Im pissed off that people are saying no sympathy or start about tax payers and free money, I don’t want sympathy I’m not saying I am entitled and I’m not saying give me free money because a loan is a loan and what I’m saying is why should we have things chopped because of a loan that we have to pay back anyways when you don’t have to pay back your UC after you earn 27k that’s all I bloody said!

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 17:03

We’ve got alot going on at the moment to support him school are doing things and putting things in place and I am having to fill forms and go to meetings to discuss stuff, I’m having a tough time with him at the moment and want this sorted before I start in October 😊

OP posts:
AReallyUsefulEngine · 07/05/2022 17:05

But it’s a maintenance loan, the whole point of it is you use it to fund living just like other students. Otherwise everyone would decide to study in order to receive the loan even if they weren’t actually going to put any effort into studying. The loan isn’t the same as other types of loans, many don’t ever pay it all back.

AReallyUsefulEngine · 07/05/2022 17:06

Where are you in the EHCP process, what week are you on?

LethargeMarg · 07/05/2022 17:08

Op as well as the maintenance loan you get £5000 bursary and up to £2000 for dependant children . That's not loans. I had a place on a nursing course to start this month but have ended up doing one through work so I know this is correct.
Are you sure you don't have placements in first year that sounds very unusual ? You will be doing nights long days early starts etc when on placement they won't take into account your children but it will be so worth it you'll walk into a job at the end of the course

Original poster
Leanne1191 · 07/05/2022 17:09

i will ring Monday ask a few questions.

thanks for everyone who has helped me I will get it sorted and I will be a qualified nurse in three years I will not give up! 💪🏻👌🏻

OP posts:
LethargeMarg · 07/05/2022 17:09

Take the maintenance loan you'll pay back such a small amount each month you won't even notice the payments

Autienotnaughtie · 07/05/2022 17:12

So you will lose carers approx £300pm
You will gain first £110 from maintenance loan
Then what you lose in uc you will gain in maintenance loan so that will equal out.

So yes you will be £190 worse off unless there's any thing else your entitled to.

AReallyUsefulEngine · 07/05/2022 17:18

Autienotnaughtie · 07/05/2022 17:12

So you will lose carers approx £300pm
You will gain first £110 from maintenance loan
Then what you lose in uc you will gain in maintenance loan so that will equal out.

So yes you will be £190 worse off unless there's any thing else your entitled to.

OP will also get parents’ learning allowance which isn’t deducted from benefits.

TaxiForMaxi · 07/05/2022 17:29

Hi OP, I was also a single parent claiming UC whilst going to uni. I did think it was really unfair to take the student loan into account as tax credits don’t, I had £600 a month deducted. On top of that, the attitude of the ‘advisor’ at the job centre when I went to make my claim was absolutely shameful, luckily I only had to see her twice in 3 years of training, I feel
genuinely sorry for the people who have to see her weekly!

But ANYWAY! You manage, you’ll get quite a lot in student loans and grants, some people were better off on my course than they were working full time. I’m a fully qualified nurse now with £77,000 worth of student debt for my troubles, it does sting when i’m paying back my loan knowing I’ve already financially ‘paid’ this money in deductions from my UC. But good luck, it’s only a few years and you’ll be fine, my uni had a really good financial support team and not one person had to drop out due to finances and most of the people on my course were older, single parents like myself

TaxiForMaxi · 07/05/2022 17:31

Oh and just to point out I had a well paid but dead end job. I always wanted to be a nurse so when my circumstances allowed for me to go for it, I quit my job. I ended up getting £350ish a month UC which went towards my rent, I wouldn’t have been able cope without it

roarfeckingroarr · 07/05/2022 17:42

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.

You could work...

roarfeckingroarr · 07/05/2022 17:45

A sensible thing would be for people to pay back UC and other benefits when earning more

TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat · 07/05/2022 17:51

Please go and see Citizen's Advice Bureau, as this stuff is complicated.

WhatInFreshHell · 07/05/2022 18:08

You're not coming across well here, attitude wise "blah blah blah" comments and such...I would modify your attitude before you enter the NHS or you'll have a very rude awakening. A nursing degree is hard work, placements are neverending. It's not an easy degree to get, not in the slightest. I did mine as a single parent and it almost broke me. It's extremely hard work and demanding. You appear to be going into this with rose tinted glasses on, and I would do some very serious research into the degree programme before you commit. If I could have my time again, I wouldn't have done it. I earn a pittance as a nurse, less that I did before.

dolphinsarentcommon · 07/05/2022 18:17

WhatInFreshHell · 07/05/2022 18:08

You're not coming across well here, attitude wise "blah blah blah" comments and such...I would modify your attitude before you enter the NHS or you'll have a very rude awakening. A nursing degree is hard work, placements are neverending. It's not an easy degree to get, not in the slightest. I did mine as a single parent and it almost broke me. It's extremely hard work and demanding. You appear to be going into this with rose tinted glasses on, and I would do some very serious research into the degree programme before you commit. If I could have my time again, I wouldn't have done it. I earn a pittance as a nurse, less that I did before.

I completely agree. OP is going to have a big shock, and with an attitude like she appears to have it won't end well.

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 18:17

WhatInFreshHell · 07/05/2022 18:08

You're not coming across well here, attitude wise "blah blah blah" comments and such...I would modify your attitude before you enter the NHS or you'll have a very rude awakening. A nursing degree is hard work, placements are neverending. It's not an easy degree to get, not in the slightest. I did mine as a single parent and it almost broke me. It's extremely hard work and demanding. You appear to be going into this with rose tinted glasses on, and I would do some very serious research into the degree programme before you commit. If I could have my time again, I wouldn't have done it. I earn a pittance as a nurse, less that I did before.

I agree to some degree. I worked as a Nurse for 30 years. I guess I earned enough when my kids were small but only by doing endless nights and weekends getting enhanced rates. But yes if you can't do unsocial hours it is hard and not great pay considering the stress and toll on mental health. If you can progress upwards, then obviously better but sometimes those opportunities don't seem to come up very often.

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 18:19

Babyroobs · 07/05/2022 18:17

I agree to some degree. I worked as a Nurse for 30 years. I guess I earned enough when my kids were small but only by doing endless nights and weekends getting enhanced rates. But yes if you can't do unsocial hours it is hard and not great pay considering the stress and toll on mental health. If you can progress upwards, then obviously better but sometimes those opportunities don't seem to come up very often.

Show quote history

And I really regret doing all those unsocial hours. I spent my kids childhood being irritable and grumpy through total lack of sleep and exhaustion and barely saw them at weekends.