Lost my job and claiming UC- Study or take this job?

[Wordsandwishes]

Posting for traffic.This may be a little long, but I really appreciate anyone who reads and has some advice. Have posted elsewhere too but I think I may get more response here.

For context, DH and I are both 26, and have a young baby. We graduated 5 years ago and had jobs lined up after graduating, both working full time ever since. Everything was fine, paying our own way etc. Then in June, I lost my job due to Covid and in July DH lost his too. Very fortunately, DH secured a job as a learning mentor in a Special Needs School by the of July so we had an income coming in. We took a hit in terms of pay as its lower than what he was previously receiving, but he is much happier with his new role. I have been applying for jobs but it has been tough finding jobs and getting interviews and as a result we started claiming UC as I was now unemployed and DH is on a low wage. I am so thankful for UC because without it, I can't imagine what would have happened.

I had the time to think about what I really want to do and on a whim I applied to a 2 year university training course which by the end you receive the qualifications to work as a clinical practitioner. I had an interview and was successful; the course starts in September 2021. However, DH has finished for half term and has also been offered a better position in his school from September as a member of staff is leaving. The pay is only slightly more, not a big pay rise but would still go a long way given our current circumstance, however, it is unlikely to make a difference in the long run if that makes sense.

So here is where I am at. If I accept the course in September, DH will need to either go part-time or become a stay at home dad to look after our baby as the course is 'learning on the job' and is 5 days a weeks (mix of both clinical placement and lectures and seminars). It is intense and we do not have any family to help with childcare. This would mean I would still need to claim UC (as well as student finance) with the intention of after 2 years we will no longer need to claim as the training would mean I would be able to apply for roles with higher salaries as well as job security etc. I'm not sure whether UC will allow me to become a full-time student and dh a stahd/working part time. The alternative is dh takes his new role with a slight pay rise and I continue looking for work and perhaps pursue the training once DC is at school.

Dh is incredibly supportive and feels the opportunity I have been offered is too good to pass up, I just have several reservations. I don't know what is the best thing to do and I am trying to weigh up pros and cons. I don't want to be claiming forever and feel guilty despite the fact the situation was beyond my control. I want to do whatever I can to try make job prospects better so we can live a good quality of life and having this qualification would allow me to do that. It has been tough the past few months and although UC has relived some stress, we are still going pay check to pay check. This has been hard for me to write up so I may have missed something so any questions please ask. If you have read thus far, thank you and I really do appreciate any advice. I just want to make life feel a little easier than it has been and secure a decent future for our baby.

Check if students can claim UC first as I’m not sure what the rules are.

www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students

Which NHS Band would you qualify as?

You will have an underlying entitlement to UC due to the baby - however the maintenance part of your student finance will be taken off your UC award £ for £ (as well as any other adjustments for earnings etc). You have to take the maximum maintenance available to you - you cannot not take the finance to get more UC.
If your other half is earning more than about £550 per month then you will both be ‘light touch’ so will be left alone for the most part (at the moment) anyway.
How old is the baby? if you said you are the main care when you made the claim and the baby is under 3 then you won’t be asked to look for work anyway.

I’d let DH take the job and continue to look for more work.

Benefits should be a last resort and studying as an adult should be self funded. I’d not want my children raised on benefits through choice to pursue a want.

If studying meant that much to me I’d work around it, inc evenings and nights and arrange childcare if needed.

Your DH certainly shouldn't give up the chance of a job he likes to facilitate your studying. Then nobody in your household would have a full time job. I dont know of you would be entitled to UC igpf your DH worked part time by choice and you were a student.

Would paid for child care not be an option? It seems like you are sacrificing one career for another.

Why can’t you use a childminder?

What is the student finance you refer to here? I was under that for Student Finance England, you could only get it for a maximum of 4 years and once you've completed a degree you can't get anymore. As such you would be having to source loans from private companies which will have worse payment terms as they aren't tied to your income - you would just be expected to start repaying regardless of your situation.

Seems like a lot of risk to me taking on a load of extra debt when you already have a degree.

Seems like a big ask to ask a partner to go part time/stay at home when you already have a degree.

Seems like a tough 2 years ahead relying on whatever student finance you are talking about and UC.

Can't you just keep searching for another job? Was your degree and industry quite niche?

I’m not sure why you aren’t considering paid childcare?

I am a student / DH works and our toddler goes to nursery 3 days a week?

Why not paid for childcare? you haven’t even listed that as an option?

And you’re both graduates, is there really not a higher paid option for either of you? Unfortunately many of us have to make sacrifices to our careers first and use childcare, in order to provide for our families.

Another one not understanding why DH would have to give up work - can’t you use a nursery?

We just paid for childcare even with a 2 week old baby when we both worked full time. That might be the answer eg you could work 10 hours days at weekends in a shop whilst your other half has the baby too to bring in money on top of any student loan.

He shouldn't give up a job he likes so that the family can struggle on student finance and benefits for 2 years. I think you need to look at other options. Or yes, postpone full-time study until you are eligible for free nursery hours and can afford top up childcare.
Has losing your job knocked your confidence?

All the posts here seem very short sighted. If the job you have after training is much better paid than anything you could get now then you should do whatever it takes to make it happen. If your DH is in education he should be able to pick it up again later on. Theoretically, your higher salary and better career prospects after two years should mean that you ultimately contribute more to society via income tax than if you remain without qualifications. You should never feel bad about accepting benefits you’re entitled to while trying to do better for yourself, your family and society!

Put kid in nursery or get a childminder

You need to think long term (actually medium term as in 2 years you and him could have tripled your income)

Paid for childcare - as other PP have rightly pointed out.

I did this as a single mother, full time work plus studying for professional qualifications, from the time Maternity Leave was only 12 weeks - Now on the other side and it's the best thing I ever did financially, emotionally and spiritually.

With your supportive husband, you can do this without comprising each others careers.

Sit down together, research and create a workable plan. Best Wishes OP

@RhodaDendron the OP is not without qualifications. Both she and her DH have degrees.

Is it a pre-reg course? You might be entitled to childcare grant, I was- it covers 85% of childcare costs up to £160 a week.

Your young baby will be a close to toddler age by the time you start the course so paid childcare would be an option. Even if economically it’s a bit of a hit for 2 years you will both be better off in the long run.

If you aren't willing to pay for childcare then I'd leave the studying until your DC is older.

Claim the childcare grant through student finance and put the child in paid childcare.

DH will need to either go part-time or become a stay at home dad to look after our baby

Why? you could use a child minder? or nursery

You both have degrees, what were you doing before you got made redundant? You should be able to find work?