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..

No, I’m thinking of UC

I'm confused.

You can still get benefits and study. I'm not sure about housing benefit. In the pass you could but since the change over to Universal Credit, and the maintenance loan you will receive from Student Finance once you study, they will take that into consideration.

I'm sure you can get financial help for nursery fees too...

You will also get a childcare grant from student finance which covers 85% of your childcare up to a certain amount

I find that some people on Mumsnet do not like single mothers... or mothers in particular to "give up" their job and study to achieve something greater.

If they want to stay in an unhappy job just for the sake of paying bills, then good luck to them.

If you want to do a Masters and you know it'll lead to a great career, you can do it. Your DD is only 9 months. You'll still be able to get Child Tax Credits whilst receiving a loan.

@buildingbridge you're not wrong there. It's acceptable if you're lucky enough to have a DP to financially support you though but god forbid a single mum wants to better herself.

Could you wait until your child is at school? How will you pay for childcare? You will see very little of your child. You are being selfish not to wait

Such an outdated view. Do you feel the same way about working parents. I think waiting till school age is ridiculous. The earlier, the better. I found doing a Masters Degree and looking after my school age child very difficult as my DS attended a number of extra curricular activities... homework..luckily I used the funding to get a part time nanny to get him to XYZ and I helped with HW in the evenings. But it was hard.

Not only that, I found studying much more flexible than when I was working. I was able to attend to my DS's school plays, pick him up from school, go to events.. without being penalised when I was studying. I didn't find working that flexible at all.

@buildingbridge

I find that some people on Mumsnet do not like single mothers... or mothers in particular to "give up" their job and study to achieve something greater.

If they want to stay in an unhappy job just for the sake of paying bills, then good luck to them.

If you want to do a Masters and you know it'll lead to a great career, you can do it. Your DD is only 9 months. You'll still be able to get Child Tax Credits whilst receiving a loan.

You can no longer get tax credits for new claims - how many times do people need to say this ? Universal credit has replaced tax credits as is not half as generous for students. Op would be best seeking guidance from the University student welfare dept.

Babyroob OP mentioned Tax credits so I assumed she as getting this.

@buildingbridge

Babyroob OP mentioned Tax credits so I assumed she as getting this.

And if she is she will be moved onto UC upon leaving work, it's a triggering event. The days of the cushy tax credits are going, going, gone. The UC is affected by the loan amount, not in addition to the loan.

I WISH people would stop seeing education as some sort of luxury.

“Why should the taxpayer pay for your education” they cry!

WELL, because our whole society benefits from having doctors, social workers, scientists, teachers, etc etc, and it’s right that anybody who has the ability and who is willing to work hard should have the opportunity to do these roles.

The attitude of “why should you be guven a leg up to improve your prospects” is why there is so much inequality in this country.
Makes me sick.

Many years ago I was a single parent and ended up unemployed on full benefits. I did a bachelors degree during my time at home via the OU and it's the best decision I ever made so in that sense I say go for it.
However, when I did it we still had a labour government who handed out benefits like there was no tomorrow. Times have changed and my biggest worry for you OP, is the benefits cap which in London is 23k. Seeing as your rent is 15k, that doesn't leave an awful lot to then pay council tax, water, electric, gas, food, etc. I would think seriously if that is enough to live off. Or, if this is really what you need to do, look for somewhere cheaper to live because £1250 seems like a crazy amount of money for just one adult and a baby.

I find that some people on Mumsnet do not like single mothers... or mothers in particular to "give up" their job and study to achieve something greater.

If they want to stay in an unhappy job just for the sake of paying bills, then good luck to them.

I have my suspicions a lot of them think staying in an unhappy job for the sake of paying the bills and not wanting professional and salary opportunities is for other people. Not them.

I have done a lot of stuff as a single mother with no family/support around but a course with overnight placements is something I wouldn’t do.

Obviously, there will be woman that have managed that in the same circumstances while running a three ring circus but if you don’t have overnight childcare and the very small amount of money a loan provides, you cannot do placements and without placements you will fail your course.

The help you could get from the university will be minimal as it is a master (non considered as “essential” as an UG degree so unless the uni is trying to promote/fill the course you are unlikely to get a bursary for a master), the circumstances that would lead you into hardship could be foreseen at the time of entry so you might not qualify for support from the university's hardship fund.

It seems to me you are leaving a secure although badly paid job for a future of debt and hardship for a degree you are unlikely to be able to complete given your current circumstances.

I am not saying “don’t do it”, just wait for a more favourable time in your life or choose something else to study that doesn’t require over night / long distance placements.

I wish you the very best of luck!

I think this is a great use of benefits and you’re doing something now that will set you up for life.

There will always be people who disagree. But I bet they are the ones who never have to make a decision like this.

Choose the best option for and your daughter.

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas

Not sure if you saw but social work is a professional qualification, so what you are saying isn’t relevant to OP.

@buildingbridge

I find that some people on Mumsnet do not like single mothers... or mothers in particular to "give up" their job and study to achieve something greater.

If they want to stay in an unhappy job just for the sake of paying bills, then good luck to them.

If you want to do a Masters and you know it'll lead to a great career, you can do it. Your DD is only 9 months. You'll still be able to get Child Tax Credits whilst receiving a loan.

Well, quite! OP is also young at 23. She’ll likely be paying into the system for many more years to come. She’s been through a difficult time and is working to better herself and her life. I find that inspirational.

Its not selfish to want to further your career prospects and in turn, make a better life for you and your child.
Do what you have to, I say. And good luck!

Have you looked into being an assistant SW? Our local authority has a few who are then funded to do their course, means you get a full time wage even whilst at uni.

Haenow, I took from the title of the thread she is wanting to do a master. PG degrees do not attract the same amount of funding/support as undergraduate degrees or other level 5 qualifications.

Social work undergraduate degrees were heavily subsidised/bursary supported in years past but as far I am aware, that is no longer the case since years ago.

Sometimes it is just that some plans need to be carefully thought before you screw up yourself and your child financially with some well intentioned and perfectly justified dreams.

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas

Haenow, I took from the title of the thread she is wanting to do a master. PG degrees do not attract the same amount of funding/support as undergraduate degrees or other level 5 qualifications.

Social work undergraduate degrees were heavily subsidised/bursary supported in years past but as far I am aware, that is no longer the case since years ago.

Sometimes it is just that some plans need to be carefully thought before you screw up yourself and your child financially with some well intentioned and perfectly justified dreams.

Your understanding is wrong - in fact just about every sentence in this post is wrong!

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas

Haenow, I took from the title of the thread she is wanting to do a master. PG degrees do not attract the same amount of funding/support as undergraduate degrees or other level 5 qualifications.

Social work undergraduate degrees were heavily subsidised/bursary supported in years past but as far I am aware, that is no longer the case since years ago.

Sometimes it is just that some plans need to be carefully thought before you screw up yourself and your child financially with some well intentioned and perfectly justified dreams.

Your understanding is wrong - in fact just about every sentence in this post is wrong!

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas

Haenow, I took from the title of the thread she is wanting to do a master. PG degrees do not attract the same amount of funding/support as undergraduate degrees or other level 5 qualifications.

Social work undergraduate degrees were heavily subsidised/bursary supported in years past but as far I am aware, that is no longer the case since years ago.

Sometimes it is just that some plans need to be carefully thought before you screw up yourself and your child financially with some well intentioned and perfectly justified dreams.

@TheMotherofAllDilemmas

I don’t want people being swayed wrongly and I don’t mean to pick on you but you’re not correct about the way SW courses are funded.
I appreciate OP didn’t give all the details initially but she has since explained it’s a SW Masters. It is not the same as doing, for example, a Masters in Sociology. There is quite a bit of financial support out there for social work qualifications, a profession which attracts and encourages mature students who naturally, have other commitments.

Postgrad student and single mum.

You absolutely can claim UC as a student parent.
A third of your loan amount will be used to offset against your UC clai, not the entire loan amount - this is because it is a postgraduate course.
You should be able to claim up to 85% of your childcare costs back too through UC.

UC do get things wrong. I had been to CAB, done lots of research and checks, the staff in the job centre had put all kinds of additional information on the system for my case, yet my claim was rejected initially. They had miscalculated my loan amount and not offset it properly. I knew enough to know they were wrong! When I phoned this was confirmed and they were meant to re-open my claim. They didn't but my fresh claim went through without any problems.

Speak to CAB, they should be able to give you a fairly accurate idea of what you should get.

So many people have replied who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about or who have been given dodgy information themselves. As I said, contact CAB.

And apply for that course!! 🙂

You should be able to claim up to 85% of your childcare costs back too through UC.
No, not if you are not working.

I’m glad you’re applying.

Also worth remembering you don’t pay council tax as a student (they give you 100% rebate, at least mine did make sure yours do too). I got dentist check ups free too.