WIBU to go on benefits to study a Masters degree?

[mummypiggg]

I'm currently working a job I absolutely love (social care related) but even at the highest level would not be able to ever live comfortably or buy a house. I can literally cover rent and bills/food and I'm left with about £50 a month if I'm lucky. I know many people live like this but it doesn't feel like much of a life, and I'd love to be able to save for a rainy day.

I did look at starting a masters after finishing my BSC but was really excited to get into work and received an offer a week after submitting my dissertation.

I'm now a single mum with no financial or childcare support from DD's dad. I have no desire to meet anybody until my DD (9 months) is a little older and would like to set us up for a better future assuming we'll be alone if that makes sense.

The trouble is, the course I want to do includes work placements, and there's no way I'd be able to work the weekends or evenings as I wouldn't be able to get regular childcare and it would be the only time I'd get to spend time with DD.

In one way I feel that I'd be unfairly using the system, but on the other hand I think it would only be for a short time (I can complete the course in a year) and would pretty much completely change our lives. Would like to get some opinions before I make a decision..

You CAN claim UC as a student, they will take into consideration your student loan but with high rent costs you'd likely get a fair chunk still. Your daughters age means your work commitments will be switched off. Please don't let people who have zero clue about the benefit system put you off!

My friend trained to be a doctor and is still a doctor in hospital starting when her baby was just under a year old. She had childminder during the day and paid/s a qualified worker from a local daycare to stay over nights and weekends at her house.

Have you looked into Frontline, Step Up and Think ahead courses? These are all bursaried courses that get you a PGDip to fully qualify as a social worker and they offer a bursary. The Step Up course, for example, is 13 months long and gives a bursary of just over £1,300 a month with no tuition fees. Frontline is similar, a bit longer but very similar. The bursary isn't taxable income so you can claim child tax credits (not sure on UC), council tax rebate and if you're a single parent you MAY get child care help but I'm not sure on that as it depends on different things.

You can also qualify as a SW through various apprenticeship style schemes now where you are employed with your LA and effectively sponsored through the qualification.

Basically, there are much better options than relying on a 10k loan to fund two years of study. They are very competitive, Step up had 10,000 applicants for 500 places but if you have a good first degree (2:1 or above) and good work experience you've got a great shot. Frontline (child and family focused but qualifies you for everything) and Think Ahead (mental health SW) recruit every year. Step up is government sponsored and runs every 2 years, so next application cycle starts at the beginning of 2021. That is also child and family focused but again it is a universal qualification.

Hope that helps, ignore the ridiculous comments about benefits and training. You'll do more for society in your training than most people will in far longer...

@StudyBuddy you were advised incorrectly. Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit are overlapping but different benefits for a start. Normally students can't get UC but having a child overrules this. It's totally dependent on your elements (child, rent, couple/single, any disabilities) and what deductions would be taken off for income. UC isn't kind to students like Tax Credits were BUT they can and do pay out to student parents.

@Babesinthewud I think they may have started funding masters in 2016 according to the gov website

You are not entitled to most be edits whisky studying or looking to study unfortunately.

However, there may be other funding options. Have you checked out Turn2Us? They have a directory of grants, many of which are for education or professions.

@YerAWizardHarry We were told dozens of times that tax credits have become a part of universal credit...

@StudyBuddy they both still exist and treat students completely differently, tax credits disregard all student income whereas UC take it £ for £

@mummypiggg

It's a social work masters which I'd definitely need. I also work with social workers in my current role and have a really good relationship with quite a few of the managers so it would be almost guaranteed that I'd be considered for a role.

I understand that it may seem selfish but right now due to my income I'm only contributing a small amount of tax anyway so in theory I'd be paying back much more than what I'd be receiving over time.

From a career point of view, what is the point in doing a social care masters degree - genuine question. It sounds like a Mickey Mouse degree that won’t get you on the career ladder like you are looking to do. There are some really pointless degrees out there, without which you could just work up the career ladder with slow steady promotions. Just curious what is the obvious progression path with this course.

It is a shame there isn't more support for people in your situation it is short term help for a longterm goal that will set both you and DD up for life.

People saying you’re being selfish are ridiculous, you’ll contribute much more to the economy and the tax man if you get a masters and better paying job after it!

Absolutely go for it. Not quite the same but I’m doing an NHS masters and have found it pretty manageable

@sst1234 she’d be doing a social work masters... to become a social worker

I got a mature student grant (as well as a loan) for my masters. It was a while back but was paid by the local authority. Worth looking into if they still exist.

There are quite a few paid routes to study to be a SW so worth looking into those eg step up to SW and Frontline

[quote riotlady]@sst1234 she’d be doing a social work masters... to become a social worker[/quote]
Social workers NEED to be educated to postgraduate level? No, they do not. That’s more than the requirement for some lawyer sectors and definitely nurses. And this is my point, of OP is taking this hard decision, the course needs to be worth it. Gone are the days when a degree was enough to secure a good career.

@mummypiggg

The course costs £5000 and the maximum loan is £10,607 so after the course I'd have £5,607 to live on.

I'm in a UC area and have no idea how it works but I don't think I'd be able to claim tax credits. My rent for the year is £15000 (SE London) so without benefits would be impossible to do. I haven't made any decisions yet and will also obviously depend on whether I would even be able to claim?

I've just applied for a master's loan and the max is £11222.

I don't believe you can legally claim benefits if you're a student. I looked into it as an undergraduate and couldn't claim anything.

What about a job that's flexible? I work for McDonald's and can arrange my shifts to fit around my studies. It's not terrible pay either.

@Babesinthewud

*Why are posters saying the masters will not be eligible for student finance?*

@healththrowawayx

I was under the impression that the government don’t offer loans for masters level? Maybe I’m wrong but I thought the fees had to be paid upfront and there was no loans available?

You can get a loan for masters.

Proof.

@sst1234 you need a degree in social work to be a social worker where I am. I assumed this was the same for everywhere but maybe not.

My current degree is relevant so it would only take a year to do a masters and I don't believe I would get any funding to do a BA which would be 3 years and around 27k

In Scotland there are bursaries for social work degrees so check their are none at your chosen uni. They're super competitive but worth looking at.

It’s a social WORKER masters so would qualify her to be a social worker!

@sst1234 i don’t think you understand this type of masters is a professional qualification ... like a PGCE to become a teacher.

What benefits are you currently claiming if any?

If you currently get tax credits and/or housing benefit get some proper advice before applying for Universal credit as in some circumstances you are better off remaining on tax credits. Once you start an application for UC you can’t go back.

Can you just choose to ‘go on benefits’?
I didn’t think you could