havent a clue/son probably going to college 2015 what help

[ilovechristmas1]

hi,i know im looking ahead but really havent a clue about college etc

any general idea would be good as im worrying already

ok

im a single parent of 3 (2 will leave school next summer)twins

im on benefits ESA etc (do not recieve any maintanance)

twins both leaving school next summer both want to go to college

we already have dates for open evenings/careers advice coming up

im looking into the financial side but im confused,do i still get tax credit and CB for them while at college?

am i right in thinking that they can apply for a maintance grant (dosent have to be paid back)? on top of tax credit

do we pay any college fees or is that just uni

were pretty sure the courses for both children will be within a 25 mile radius of home so will still be living here hopefully,so no accomadation to pay

any help would be great as they are my eldest and never had to deal with this before,i suffer anxiety and it's started early with all this

many thanks in advance for your time

If they are 18 then basically everything carries on like school re benefits. They may be able to apply for a bursary/grant but that is up to the college they attend.

Are they 16 or 18?

Assuming they're in year 11 nothing will change! Sixth form or FE colleges free of fees for 16-18 year olds, you'll continue to get CB and tax credits.

There is no entitlement to a grant, but based on your income and the distance to college they may get help towards travel.

Some colleges provide financial assistance. However this depends on the college/area. Typically they are Bursary Fund, Learning essentials, and Borough support schemes.

If they were getting FSM in 2011/2012, they should also get FSM in college, unless the government decide to stop this.

With your TC and CB you will have to let them know, or they will stop. However, to get these they have to be in full time education or on an approved training scheme,

yes they will be 16 when they leave yr11

yes my income will be under £16k

thank you for all the help,atleast gives me an idea whats going to happen

www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund

Where we live travel has to be paid and is reduced by the college depending on parental income and attendance so, here, you would be fine unless they took it upon themselves to not bother going in quite a bit. It is something to check when they are choosing their college though - what are the rules and how would you apply.

My son is starting this Thursday and he is 19. Your son will get grant up to £3388 (no need to pay back) for the first year if your income is of the lowest tier to which you might belong. You can borrow maintenance loan which I haven't done as I don't want my autistic son to be loaded with debts just in case I kick the bucket. Then you might want to borrow £9000 for tuition fee which will be payable once your son earns more than £21K. Don't worry about the money. It might be wise to make sure he goes to a good university to study a professional course. The end of the day, you don't want him to end up as a picker in Amazon warehouse! I was told that this loan would not take off any interest unless the end of a year and hence the debt might be inflated a bit. The loan has to be paid index-linked + 3% on top as far as I understand. I might be wrong.

It might also be a good idea to find a uni as near home as possible. The end of the day, a degree is a degree and if he is clever enough, Bob is your uncle. If he stays home, you save a lot on accommodation (some charge £5200 per annum without food or cleaner). Only two days ago, I learned this trick: if you have a daughter, she might not have to pay a dime. She might not get a job more than £21k for a start. Then a few years down the road, she might get married and have children and hence no income. How I wish I had a girl! Only joking, but when you see other peoples in the UK not having to pay a dime and clamour for independence, you are overwhelmed with a sense of injustice and can't blame some girl working out such a scenario.

thanks there has been some great advice

i will have two hopefully starting college next sept

one will be a bus ride away the other's college will be a train ride approx 20miles (if they get in)

but both will live at home

from what i can gather financially it should be ok,i am on ESA so classed as low income,it seems that lower the income the better of vs middle earners if i have my facts right

were of to a few open evenings in the next couple of months so hope to ask the colleges what's avaliable

interesting to hear of others expereinces,thank you

yes they will be 16 when they leave yr11

I remember a man from tax credit office told me that they would pay child tax credit as long as they are doing A level even until they are 19 or 20. You could phone them to find out. Find out the FULL NAME of the course (Btec, city and guilds....A levels ) they are doing and ask the tax credit people and they will tell you.

Phone them to get a better picture as what they are studying will affect your income. Now that my son is gong to university, my child tax credit has stopped in August and I have to be very careful with my money. I hope it helps.

Member336

Surely fees, loans etc don't apply to a 16 year old do they??

thanks

yes one hopefully will be for A levels,2yr course

the other is more undecided

I think BTECs are generally classed as fulltime even though they are often over 3/4 days but always best to check.
Obviously can't be sure so check with tax credit office but my DS is doing BTEC and I am still claiming child benefit for him. I would have thought if it ok for that it should be ok for other benefits

ok what happens if they leave at 16 and become an apprentice with a day release at college are they entitled to tax credit/maintanance grant or do they just get a small wage as such

thank you

bump:

They earn a wage. Think the minimum is about £100 but it depends on the company.

Although you can't make choose what they do after school based on what whether you lose money it may be an idea to speak to the benefits office to see how each decision will affect you. Better to have warning than find out next September

thanks,he's so undecided

will phone them and ask them

i phoned tax credit and yes you are right if he goes for apprentice he gets a wage instead

thanks

thanks all

Went to an open evening was really good

only strange thing was the people from the college said they would have to apply for a bursary and knew nothing about the Maintanance Grant is the grant just for Uni and not college then,getting more confused??

Maintenance grant is just for university not sixth form or further education college.

ahh that makes perfect sense now,i guess that is where the bursary comes in

many thanks

thanks for the reply i think i will be posting lots of ??? over the coming months