Student and Universal Credit Woes

[Kefte123]

I'm currently a full-time university student and a single mum with two children. I ended up splitting up with my partner of over a decade, partly because he didn't want to move closer to university with us.

So I found my own house to rent and I sorted my student finance and applied for universal credit. I thought I'd be okay, because I had someone do an assessment of my entitlements from a charity prior to moving in and I've had single friends who have done the same and I spoke to them about finances (they were on tax credits). I really felt I'd be okay.

Today after several weeks of waiting I got my Universal credits award of £88. If my eldest child wasn't disabled it would have been £0.

Basically, I'm now living on student finance, child benefit and £88....and my son's DLA. I don't get much more than a single mother out of work or student without dependents, except I have books, transport (fuel, parking, insurance, upkeep), school dinners and 15% childcare costs (approx £500 per month , that's if my car doesn't need major repairs). So I'm worse off than them. I've searched for help with bursaries and financial aid, and I don't know where to turn.

It doesn't help that student finance isn't paid in a regular sum. It is paid in smaller increments at the start of the two semesters (get just over half in that period), then a larger sum towards the end of the second semester. Which means my actual time at university for 9 months is only about £700 month. How is a mother with 2 children supposed to live off that?

So now I feel terrible: I've broken my relationship down, I've moved my children into a different home and new schools and I'm now just poor and verging on quitting everything. I don't think I have enough money to survive over the course of the Christmas period, I have just around £600 - that's for rent/car payments/fuel/food/electricity. On top of that my house was rented with no carpets or flooring. I have barely any furniture. This is poverty.

I have a very intensive degree on a foundation programme for medicine, which means there is no time to work around the degree as a single parent and I could only work Sundays (and I would have to rely on my partner for childcare). My ex-partner does give some support, but it's not enough to fill that gap as he doesn't earn much more than minimum wage himself and has a mortgage to pay.

I'm desperately trying all avenues for help, checking if the universal credits is correct. The helpline was unsympathetic and saying I should just budget and how I get £10,000 a year in student finance and anyone can survive fine on just that. I keep breaking down my basic outgoings and how they don't cover my income, they don't care. I'm losing the will to live and I have two summative essays of 2000 words to hand in by Thursday and I can't concentrate. I'm so close to failure.

Speak to the university finance advisors about funds for books and hardship.

Break down your outgoings into essential and non essential to see if you can reduce anywhere by shopping around for bills etc..

Look at meals, there are threads on here about survival on a budget that have good money saving ideas.

Are you eligible for free school meals for your children? Double check on the council website.

Unfortunately universal credit takes student income into account. It is shit.

Why did you leave your partner? I wouldn’t have put my children in this situation to be honest. Seems unfair to them.

Joined today just to say have you looked into the childcare grant? If you're doing a course related to the NHS (which by medicine I assume you are) then you can get about 85% of your childcare covered. Worth checking out. I'd also do the usual of going to CAB and seeing what benefits you can get as it seems such a low figure to live on... surely you are entitled to more with 2 kids.

Universal Credit deducts 63p for every £1 you earn. But my partner and I found out that student loan is deducted pound for pound so realistically we'd be better off not claiming our student loans and just claiming universal credit and we don't have to pay it back. I think it's a bit crazy really

Sorry you're having a hard time, UC is awful and it feels like there's so little support to study and improve your life and that of your family.

There should be a hardship or access to learning fund at your university. As you have caring responsibilities (disabled child, as I do, too) you shouldn't have to do the long-winded application, just submit a bank statement and proof of carer status e.g. DLA letter. I did all of this last year and was given £2,000 for which I was immensely grateful. If you want to message me, I can help you navigate the ins and outs.

Thanks for the tips.

But I really do not spend a lot, hence lack of furniture or flooring. I downsized my 7 seater to a tiny diesel Ford Fiesta to save transport costs, but still pay £250 a month in fuel, insurance and parking.

I spend about £40 on food per week, I cook from scratch and bulk out with lentils. That's still almost £200 per month.

Then electric £100 (no gas), childcare £100-200 (depending if term time), water/phone/internet £100. I've checked my suppliers, I use TopCashBack. My mobile phone is £8 per month. £420 rent. So I'm already £1,220.

TBH: my partner explanation was so I can justify why I moved out. He was also violent and manipulative (he gave away my inheritance to his parents). Sorry for being selfish for getting away from that. Perhaps you shouldn't ask as people could have personal reasons like domestic violence. But right now, going back to him seems like the better option. Nevermind how it was selfish for him not support me and want to move: all on my shoulders. Jeez, thanks.

That's one hell of a drip feed

As said your university should have a hardship fund, generally they will only award once a Yr unless exceptional circumstances but they can award reasonable sums (my university was up to £3000).
Your student union sabbatical officer either welfare or something similar can also assist you with it and offer other areas such as if there is a grant available. Some universities have specific ones with weird criterias (we had one that you had to be from a certain town and study politics to apply) but there maybe something suitable.

I second speaking to CAB and the university finance office. The university will have a hardship fund. Also, contact local authority as you might be eligible for discretionary housing payment.
Apply for Warm Home discount through your utilities provider.
Are you getting maintenance?
Also, there used to be grants provided by local authority to help furnish a home. Look on your council website.

, OP. The current government are not making things easy for upward mobility.

I'm sorry to say that the course may not be worth the financial hardship and debt it will incur. Not to mention the stress of a medical course and what you'll face when a doctor in the current system. Is it worth it?

I'm a full time student, single mum, three kids and get my rent paid in full. Why do you pay rent?

Is your ex paying what the CMS have calculated?

@Kefte123

Don’t panic.

It may be that UC have fucked up. Go see a benefits advisor in person - get them to talk you through the calculations step by step.

Speak to your university. They will have a hardship fund.

Youre medical- there are lots of bursaries and charitable funds for female med students. With children you’ll be an appealing prospect - moreso if you’re academically set for success. Also check out more general foundations etc- Wellcome Trust may have something.

None of these help you in the short term (university hardship funds can be quick turnaround)- so go to a food bank. Don’t be proud about it- you need to feed your kids.

Finally - your childcare costs- is it school based? May be worth speaking to school to see if they can waive them until you’re on your feet.

Good luck- it’s tough, but you’ll be tougher. And you’re making a better life for your kids long term- well done. Keep going

God when will people wake the fuck up and realise how absolute cunting shit UC is? Just don't care, I guess. I'm so sorry, OP.

I have the childcare grant, which I use for a childminder.

Problem is my course is 9am-5pm 5 days a week. I have to use the childminder before and after school. It's £215 per week, if I'm running late than can be more. Then I have term-time to cover, I am at university during half-terms. That's £400 per week. I have to pay 15%. So I'm topping it up my £150+ every month at least.

I'll have a look at hardship fund - do you think it's university specific as I have looked for similar on my university website. I have messaged my tutor at university asking for advice within the university and left an answer machine message with a department within the university that helps students with finances. I'm also looking at opening a student bank account and seeing what they can offer in overdraft and credit to see me through this year, which is something I didn't want to do.

I have tried a webchat with CAB, but found it unhelpful. I also have an appointment with Job Centre next week whilst I try gather any information/evidence to try contest my claim for UC.

You will be entitled to student account - use overdraft until student loan comes in.

Your loans going to be about £8400 for the year, plus £1788 child benefit, plus dla perhaps around £3000. It comes in around 13k for the year I think.

The problem with CAB is that the cunts at DWP have teamed up with them to provide 'budgeting' advice' to UC claimers rather than assistance with how their claim might be wrong.

OP
Have a look at this
rmbf.org/medical-students/list-of-charitable-trusts/

Think you will have to accept debts going to be a way of life esp with childcare until you become qualified. Some unis have family accomadation which could be cheaper

And here
rmbf.org/get-help/help-for-medical-students/

Also OP- you could see if you can come to some arrangement with the uni re:family accommodation.
You would need support from a tutor etc. but perhaps you could negotiate reduced rates, deferral of payment or similar in family student accommodation?
No idea how possible that is- but worth a try?

That's one hell of a drip feed

No it isnt.

OP was posting about her financial situation not her relationship.

She stated in her OP she left her partner. Why she did matters not as she was askung for advice regarding income she does not need to say why she is single.

Why did you leave your partner? I wouldn’t have put my children in this situation to be honest. Seems unfair to them.

Yeah because staying for the kids no matter what is all that matters...fucking hell you should feel ashamed of yourself.

"Universal Credit deducts 63p for every £1 you earn. But my partner and I found out that student loan is deducted pound for pound so realistically we'd be better off not claiming our student loans and just claiming universal credit and we don't have to pay it back. I think it's a bit crazy really"

The crazy thing is, even if you don't take the loan they still calculate it in as if you have.

And why do they take £1 for £1 on a loan I will have to pay back? It's really unfair.

I have written to my MP but without giving away my location he's a very blue Tory.

I don't think your UC has been calculated right? There is a disregard the on first £110 (IIRC) of Student Finance per month, although they will take the max Student Loan award available to you, even if you took less. But then it sounds like you'd be eligible for some other additional components...
www.gov.uk/student-finance/extra-help

Is this your first UC payment? Has it been reduced as your Tax Credits remained in payment for the same period maybe?

Roughly, UC is £317 (if you are 25+) in standard allowance for you, £231 per child for child element, whatever the LHA rate in your area for Housing Element.

Not even counting the disabled child element, and spreading 10k student finance over 10 Assessment Periods / applying £110 disregard, I'd estimate £320-£350 per month.

Most universities now have bursaries for students with the lowest household income, usually about £2-3k per year. Speak to your university.

Honestly? Don't do medicine. If you're doing a foundation year, you're thinking of 6+ undergrad to fund, then awful junior doc years. You're going to have money worries for well over ten years doing medicine, and bury yourself in debt. The light at the end of the tunnel is very far away if you're struggling this early on.

Could you do an allied health training instead?

If it's better to just claim UC, do that. If you're getting over domestic abuse, take some time to do that. You have enough on your plate.