Student parents and universal credit

[Oldishusernewname]

I know I am being unreasonable for posting this in AIBU but I'm going round in circles with different advice from everywhere and I could really do with some help!

I'm a single parent (one teen still at home) full time student in receipt of an NHS bursary. I'm currently getting child tax credits but I'm due to move into a LHA flat and trying to see if I will be better off claiming UC as I can't claim housing benefit in my area. I am working part time but to be honest it's just wiping me out alongside assignments and full time placement so I would like to stop this for the time being to focus on finishing this degree (before it finishes me 😁)

I would just like to know if there is anyone in similar circumstances on here and roughly how much UC you get? I've called the helplines and got answers ranging from £0 to £890 per month and the calculators don't work for student income!

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm fully prepared for a typical AIBU roasting because I'm sure people will think I'm a scrounger but I promise I gave up a well paid but unsatisfactory job to retrain in the NHS to be a more useful member of society!

Thank you

You will not be better off, try to stay on TC for as long as you can, although I believe moving to a new area (if you are claiming help with housing costs) will trigger a move anyway. Apart from a small amount (around £100) a month you will lose UC at a rate of £1 for every £1 you receive in student loans/bursary. TC is unaffected so you will be much worse off.

Stay under Child Tax Credits. Trust me !

You don't lose £1 for £1. You lose 63p per £ you earns.

Yes, @bailey999 is right.

Tax credits are based on taxable income. Student loans and bursaries aren't taxable, so aren't taken into account.

Under UC, the maximum loan and bursary are included in full, even if you don't take the loan!

If you are currently getting housing benefit, and can remain in the same council area, your move will be treated as a change of circumstances and you can remain on HB/TCs.

It sounds as though you are moving to a different local authority area, and you won't be able to make a new claim for HB there. It's one of the things that triggers a switch to UC.

Student loans and bursaries are treated differently from earned income, @RightEarlobeBreath.

I didn't realise! That seems unfair :(

Thank you both, I suspected it may be the case! The rent is going to hurt, I had to give up my private rented house when I started the course (unforeseen circumstances) and I've been homeless/sofa surfing since and it's been a financial struggle even without rent. I can't believe just how hard it's been but I do love what I'm doing so it will be worth it when I'm qualified

It is £1 for £1, its not treated the same as earned income.

I have 700 a month deducted from my universal credit because of my student loan. That leaves me 300 a month. I have to work as well as study and I honestly never see my kids. It’s awful and I wish I stayed on housing benefit and tax credits as I got around 600 a month then and it at least covered my rent.

I'm in the same area but haven't been claiming HB so it would trigger the switchover.

The £ for £ thing is just awful and totally unfair - we do 37.5 hours a week placement for half the year so it's not like we don't work!

It’s bullshit. They should be helping single mums who are trying to better themselves and get off the benefits system.

Thank you @MonstranceClock that's really useful info! It's terribly hard to study with children these days, so short sighted of the government as it's the only way some can get out of the benefits poverty trap

Universal credit have never for my payments right either so you need to really keep on top of it. My friend ended up owing 12000 pounds to them.

That's outrageous!!

I will just suck it up then and stay on tax credits/work

Yeah they are an abysmal service.

Yes unfortunately it is taken £1 for £1.

I am a LP and I was very lucky that I graduated in 2017 and did my degree on tax credits. I got full tax credits, almost all my rent paid, CB, DLA for my daughter, my self employed income, uni scholarship and student loans and grants - which all came to around £40k pa which was obviously tax free. It made my degree a lot easier not having to stress about money.

Part of my dissertation was about how awful UC is going to be for single parents and how it is going to stop them being able to study and better themselves. It’s a disgrace.

You might not get anywhere but it is worth talking to an adviser at your university to see if they have any grants or options for you.

Thanks again everyone who has commented, it's really clarified everything for me! I've realised that I'm working an average of 16 hours a week so I've updated my details with HMRC and I should be eligible for working tax credit which will help loads towards my rent so fingers crossed I will get to the end of this in one piece

I'm a ft lone parent student. I get no benefits. I thought I'd get the child tax credit element of UC but no. It's really hard and I do wonder if I'll be able to complete my degree...

@RoryGillmoresEvilTwin that sounds completely wrong!! I hope you manage to get through, it's so shit that we have to struggle so much when we are trying to improve our future

Actually, I'm sure you should be getting at least a bit of UC, have you appealed? I've heard a lot of horror stories about the process being so complicated for student parents that the assessors often screw it up first time and it's sorted on appeal.

The whole UC system is so fucked, it's an absolute scandal