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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be worried how we will cope financially with DH becoming mature student?

60 replies

ShirleyValentine23 · 19/11/2021 07:51

We are currently on a very low household income, we are topped up by universal credit.
DH is a teaching assistant/cover supervisor in a secondary school and has been for just under 20 years (he’s just turned 40).
The wages for what is expected of him, is quite frankly an insult.
I only work part time, as I have a disability that stops me from working full time. I bring home £450 a month
He wants to apply to teach for next year. Which I’m very supportive of…however I’m very concerned about the financial implications this will have on us.
We have a 3 year old, who will be 4 once he starts studying (September 2022).
He isn’t eligible for a bursary, so we would be living off a student loan.
It’s looking like you can get a max of £12382, but I’m not sure how much we’ll be eligible for, we also have a mortgage.
I’ve also done some research and it looks like universal credit doesn’t help people in full time education, and they take the student loan as income.

Can anyone help? I really want him to do the teacher training as I think he’d be great. And he’s got so much experience. He’s ‘outgrown’ his current school role and so much is expected of him now…for very little income.
I know longer term we’ll be better off once he’s qualified, but it’s the financial implications while he’s studying that’s worrying me.

OP posts:

PersonaNonGarter · 19/11/2021 07:53

Without being too nosy, why can you only earn £450? There are so many jobs out there and loads of part time work would pay more.

Original poster

ShirleyValentine23 · 19/11/2021 07:55

@PersonaNonGarter I can look for something else, but that’s all I’m earning at the moment in my current part time role.

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 19/11/2021 07:56

There used to be a finance advisor in the College/Uni who would go through things with people before they were on the course, could he try that avenue?
In his circumstances it looks like he could get the maximum, would that replace his income and UC? Do you get the interest on your mortgage paid? He can take part time work while studying.

SnapAndFartAllDayLong · 19/11/2021 07:56

Op has literally stated she has a disability so she can't work more. I hate this attitude on MN of oh just go earn more fml

icklepiglet · 19/11/2021 08:00

School Direct and Teach First both offer salaried training routes which usually works out better financially. With his experience as a TA I'm sure he'd have no problem getting onto one of these schemes.

Original poster

ShirleyValentine23 · 19/11/2021 08:00

@Ponoka7 I was thinking we could apply to pay interest only for a year, just while he studies, if they were okay to accommodate that.

OP posts:

Peeeas · 19/11/2021 08:03

What about school direct salaried teacher training?

4amstarts · 19/11/2021 08:07

If it's something he really wants to do then he needs to take a second or third job to support it and you also need to be working to the best of your ability

greenjojocat · 19/11/2021 08:12

Try putting your new situation in here and see whether you are entitled to any other support www.entitledto.co.uk

PooWillyNameChange · 19/11/2021 08:18

Has he spoken to the university he intends to study with? Sometimes they have additional grants available for low income/special circumstances students.

user1471457751 · 19/11/2021 08:19

Is it just a pgce year he needs to do or is he also having to do a full degree? Because if it's just a year then an interest free credit card toward the end of the year might help given the long term prospects from this will be so beneficial to you family

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/11/2021 08:22

Are you getting PIP ?

AlexaIWillNeverSayDucking · 19/11/2021 08:28

He could do some tutoring on evenings and weekends and also kids holiday camps when it's not term time? This would all be relevant work experience, so he'd be snapped up when he qualifies.

He could maybe do that for a year while he's a TA, put all that money into a Uni fund?

vdbfamily · 19/11/2021 08:29

Can teaching not be done as an apprenticeship so he continues to earn current salary & does not have to borrow. Yes . it will take longer to qualify but seems best way to me when you have financial commitments.

Rubadubdub21 · 19/11/2021 08:32

Surely he can work part time as well as study?

Fizzgigg · 19/11/2021 08:32

@icklepiglet

Yes definitely explore the salaried routes into teaching. At Teach First there's a specific track for your current school to sponsor you to do it if you're a TA

SundayTeatime · 19/11/2021 08:33

@icklepiglet

I think you need a degree first before being accepted on those schemes.

Aprilx · 19/11/2021 08:36

@SnapAndFartAllDayLong

Op has literally stated she has a disability so she can't work more. I hate this attitude on MN of oh just go earn more fml

I don’t really like the attitude that disabled people should not be able to work and earn more than £450 per month.

ScaredOfDinosaurs · 19/11/2021 08:40

We don't know what the disability is so we don't know how it affects the ability to work. If OP feels comfortable sharing, perhaps we could make suggestions for additional earnings that might suit her needs?

LiterallyKnowsBest · 19/11/2021 08:44

OP, I’m sure you’ll get lots of replies here - but if you look at, or ask MNHQ to move your thread to, the new ‘Mature Study and Retraining’ board, here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

You’ll find countless people trying to find their way through exactly these issues.

gogohm · 19/11/2021 08:49

You don't say what your disabilities are? I think you need to find a job you can do more hours is the short answer. Uc does possibly help but they don't pay mortgages and yes take the student loan as income plus your wages but pip is disregarded if relevant. There is a direct entry scheme for teachers where you are paid but he will need a degree in a relevant subject

PersonaNonGarter · 19/11/2021 08:50

@SnapAndFartAllDayLong

Op has literally stated she has a disability so she can't work more. I hate this attitude on MN of oh just go earn more fml

I didn’t say she could WORK more, I said she could EARN more.

Wages in some sectors have risen by 17% in 2021. The OP may easily be able to earn more for the same hours and similar work.

MammaBear18 · 19/11/2021 08:51

Wow, lots of misguided advice here!

He will need a degree to do any of the teaching qualifications, unless it's a BSc in education which is a full 3/4 year course. PGCE is a fully time course where you do theory for 3 weeks at uni and then go into teaching placement in school. You usually have 4 days at school and one day at uni, but it varies depending on the program. It will not be possible to work alongside that! I had a part time job during my PGCE and did Thursday evening and Saturday and it was really hard, no dependants either. Why isn't he eligible for a bursary?

You are normally given a grant or some sort of funding during your PGCE which should be roughly equivalent to his current salary, if slightly less. You can also apply for a loan which is added to your student finance.

With your DC being 4 will they be accessing 30 hours funding or a primary school place?

Best bet would be to call Uni/PGCE helpline as well as student finance and ask all those questions.

Bluntness100 · 19/11/2021 08:53

Op you say you could look for another job, is this something you could explore further to improve your earning ability? Also are you in receipt of all disability benefits/support?

Fallagain · 19/11/2021 08:55

Is it a one year course to gain QTS or does he need to do a degree? Has he explored salaried routes into teaching?

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