DV and PND and low income

[LifeEndedIn2017]

I am in a DV relationship and need to leave. However I'm a fulltime student with a baby aged 8 months and surviving off a studentship. I have worked out that even if I left my partner and claimed benefits and maintenence from him I still could not afford childcare.

I have the most horrid PND for which I am taking antidepressants and have a CPN. (I don't tell CPN the full extent of everything as she is trigger-happy with contacting social services).

I cannot look after my baby because of the PND and because of being a student fulltime. I am mentally very unwell with the stress of juggling everything and being on the receiving end of DV. Obviously my partner will not help with the baby. I have no family and am at my wits end. I cannot get any free childcare off government until baby is 2 years old. If I end up having to abandon my studies to look after my baby fulltime I truly believe I will be at risk of suicide.

So what, if anything, can I do? In my depression I cannot find solutions. I have tried to go part-time but the project I am on will not allow it.

Are you a university student or college student? You can get childcare funding (grants that you dont have to pay back, paid for by the government) for both regardless of your child's age. These are entirely separate from your benefits and not taken into account income-wise. Ask your provider, they will be aware of these grants. Hugs and good luck, I'm sorry you are in this position xx

I am uni and it is postgraduate, so as far as I'm aware I can't get a childcare grant.

I have also been to women's aid and they suggested giving up my studies. "Sometimes we have to make sacrifices" they said. I have never been back to them - they just don't understand.