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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Split with husband... Universal credit... can i afford to study do i need to work??

37 replies

SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 17:18

i am out of work at the minute as been at home with children. i am due to start a college course next week, an access course hopefully leading to uni next sept.

however husband and i have just split up. im trying to work out what to do. i cant really afford to work and study, as the actual course is 3 days a week and then were expeted to do 2 days work at home, which ill need to do when the children arent here

so i know i can get universal credit to help, but if i am studying part time i am assuming they will (rightly) expect me to be looking for work too?

so im thinking my best option would be to work during school hours / whilst theyre at their dads?

it will be better in the short term but would be gutted to put a proper career on hold for longer

any thoughts?

OP posts:
scrantonelectriccity · 02/09/2023 17:22

How old are you children? You don't have work search commitments until they're 3 but if older I believe they'd expect you to work

jallopeno · 02/09/2023 17:23

How old are the kids

Original poster
SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 17:29

kids are 6, 10, 12 and 14
i was told id be expected to work 25 hours untill youngest turns 12 and then it will go up

just not sure how that works with studying

im thinking its probably a luxury i cant afford

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 02/09/2023 17:32

Study with the OU instead and work during the day. It's hard and you'll think you are losing your mind at some points but is worth it.

Nameuserchangeagain · 02/09/2023 17:34

If you aren't doing a course such as nursing study with the OU. You can do "full time" with them and still claim UC as their courses are considered part time

caerdydd12 · 02/09/2023 17:34

I believe with those ages yes you'd be expected to work, but someone else more knowledgeable will come along and confirm. Was your youngest born before or after the cut off in 2017 to get UC for more than 2 children? If after, you would only get the child element for the three older ones I believe too.

Babyroobs · 02/09/2023 17:35

If it's a full time Uni course then you are expected to take any maintenance loans you are eligible for and the loans are taken off the UC amount. However if it's a college course it's treated differently. I think you are expected to work. I may be wrong.

CornishTiger · 02/09/2023 17:39

Access is non advanced education. No you don’t have to access student finance. Yes you’d be expected to look for work too.

Original poster
SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 17:40

They're all born before 2017

I can't do it with OU as it's healthcare access course to get me into nursing/midwifery/OT at uni

Kids dad works unsociable hours (3 days off a week but 4 full days 9am-11pm including a weekend day)

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 02/09/2023 17:54

How many classroom days is the access course? Mine was 2.5 days.

You’ll be asked if you are prepared to give it up for employment. Reply Yes at this stage.

Look for work around the course. So stuff like caring where you can give your availability. It will also help with your nursing application.

Jenn3112 · 02/09/2023 17:54

Another route is to get a job in healthcare and then apply for a nursing apprenticeship rather than a full time course.

TiredArse · 02/09/2023 17:56

Check with the uni as there many be other ways to access healthcare degrees that are fewer hours and will allow you to work. Or you may be able to do a foundation year plus degree? Or an apprenticeship.

However, is healthcare a realistic goal as a single parent with limited childcare support?

CornishTiger · 02/09/2023 17:57

I think @TiredArse makes a very good point- is healthcare a realistic goal as a single parent with limited childcare support?

Original poster
SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 17:58

TiredArse · 02/09/2023 17:56

Check with the uni as there many be other ways to access healthcare degrees that are fewer hours and will allow you to work. Or you may be able to do a foundation year plus degree? Or an apprenticeship.

However, is healthcare a realistic goal as a single parent with limited childcare support?

I wanted to do occupational therapy at uni which is more office hours

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 02/09/2023 17:58

TiredArse · 02/09/2023 17:56

Check with the uni as there many be other ways to access healthcare degrees that are fewer hours and will allow you to work. Or you may be able to do a foundation year plus degree? Or an apprenticeship.

However, is healthcare a realistic goal as a single parent with limited childcare support?

My daughter is about to start a foundation degree leading onto Nursing degree at Uni. If op were to follow this route it would involve taking student maintenance loans for all four years which would reduce her UC significantly.

SocialLite · 02/09/2023 17:58

I am a student on UC and as I'm classed as full time I don't have to look for work or attend meetings.

Babyroobs · 02/09/2023 17:59

SocialLite · 02/09/2023 17:58

I am a student on UC and as I'm classed as full time I don't have to look for work or attend meetings.

Is that at Uni though or college as op is proposing ?

Singleandproud · 02/09/2023 18:01

Put the course off and work FT for 6 years the youngest will be 12 and the oldest two likely to be doing their own thing and you'll have a lot more independence. 6 years isn't so long in the big scheme of things and in the mean time you could do free courses online to get your mind back into studying etc and work at setting yourself up financially for the studying years.

GlitchStitch · 02/09/2023 18:06

You can do an apprenticeship in Occupational Therapy, where you would be paid a salary and also be allocated study time. Might be worth looking into.

Original poster
SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 18:07

Singleandproud · 02/09/2023 18:01

Put the course off and work FT for 6 years the youngest will be 12 and the oldest two likely to be doing their own thing and you'll have a lot more independence. 6 years isn't so long in the big scheme of things and in the mean time you could do free courses online to get your mind back into studying etc and work at setting yourself up financially for the studying years.

I think this is the mostly likely option, thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
SmallBlueDinosaur · 02/09/2023 18:07

GlitchStitch · 02/09/2023 18:06

You can do an apprenticeship in Occupational Therapy, where you would be paid a salary and also be allocated study time. Might be worth looking into.

Thanks I will look into this

OP posts:
Ballgateblazer · 02/09/2023 18:10

If your looking at health care have you thought about nurse associate training? Or other nhs roles where you are payed to work and study. So you can then get uc. My relative is doing it at the moment and there's a few mums on uc doing it. You can then go on to do the full nursing degree.
I would also say as someone who was in nursing and then became a single parent the thing that meant I got the hours I wanted was I'd been there along time so may want to look at different options.

TooOldForASugarDaddy · 02/09/2023 18:22

Sorry OP, I am normally a firm believer that where there’s a Will there’s a way but NOT on this.

As a woman who completed a master during maternity leave and who have raised a child mostly on my own I would say do not even think about it this is not something you can do alone unless you have lot of money and childcare support.

Honestly, you are going to go through one of the fastest more dramatic and demanding adaptations in your life as a recently divorced woman with 4 children who will need more su porte due to the recent split, you don’t need to add to it the stress of trying to find the time, energy and money to devote at least 14 hrs a week to study (that’s what it takes to succeed if you take a course part time) you already have too much on your plate if on top of that you need to increase your working hours.

You won’t get much UC if you are studying and you really need as much as you can to support four children if you are not earning a lot.

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