32 weeks pregnant, university student for one more month, claim for Income Support refused

[wombanonfire]

24-years-old, 32 weeks pregnant (baby due May 23rd), final year university student with my degree ending in early May (I literally hand in my last assignment on May 3rd, and then I've officially completed my degree and so will no longer be a university student). Claim for income support was refused on the grounds of my student loan being seen as income, even though my degree ends before my baby is due to be born. I do have one last installment of student loan to receive on April 9th (which I didn't actually mention in my claim application because it wasn't asked about - I was only asked about how much I've received so far and how much I receive in general), but how long does the DWP expect the money from that last installment to last? I still have so much more to buy for the baby, so was relying on that loan instalment to buy things with rather than to solely live off for an indefinite period/until it runs out - it won't last forever!

I also live at home with my mum who has no knowledge of my pregnancy (I have no idea how she'll react - very strict/religious/conservative). The stress of this claim refusal alongside that, and the fact that my dissertation is due in about 25 days (this is the most stressful academic period a student can go through), is exactly what I need!

Does anyone else have experience of this? I understand that you can't claim income support if you're a student, but I stop being a student in just over a month (before my baby is born), so surely that changes things???

I believe that the university will have a set end-date for academic years. In my time it was end June/early July when we got our results.

Ask your university when the official end date is.

In terms of income support I don't think you'll be able to claim until you're no longer a student so this may be why they're refusing you.

But it sounds like you have bigger problems if you live with your mum and she doesn't know you're pregnant. What will you do/where will you live if she decides you can't stay with her? When are you planning on telling her? Where's the baby's dad in all this?

I think you need to speak with your midwife and ask about support, financial and otherwise asap.

I have some experience of this re student loan counting as income. Are you not registered at the university until the academic year finishes?

I would talk to the university about your circumstances, specifically your course support (in my day it was personal tutor?)

Do you have a community midwife? Can you talk to her?

Are you sure your mum has not noticed? As you live at home, what are your plans for when baby is born?

You sound like you are in slight denial about this situation. Understandable, but you need to start talking and looking for help. It’s difficult to do the parent thing alone, and not strictly necessary.

I'm sorry I have no advice about the money, I'm sure someone will be along who understands that side of things more.

I really think you need to talk to your mum, you live with her and the baby will not just turn your world upside down but also your mothers. It's not right to leave it this long when you live in her house, especially so if it's going to make her upset in regards to her religious beliefs. She needs a heads up about it so she can deal with the issues now and then (hopefully) support you fully when the baby is born.

Do you have any things for the baby yet?
With a newborn you really don't need to spend that much on clothes/different seats/toys to begin with. Have you looked on facebook market place or freecycle/eBay/preloved for second hand clothes/car seat/bouncers etc? Or if you don't like second hand then Asda usually have nice selections of baby grows and vest multipacks for £4-£6. They often have a baby section sale on too but I'm not sure when the next one is. The most important thing is a cot/basket, a car seat and milk & bottles if necessary. Also a sling might be a good option for the first few weeks/months.

Just because you hand your assignment in doesn't mean you've finished at uni. Check the dates and try again.

You really need to tell your mum.

I lecture at university and our end of term is definitely June and not May (when everyone hands everything in). You are still a student until after graduation and that takes place in June usually (July for some courses)

I second telling your mum asap. It'll be a complete shock and dumping in on her last minute will make it even more difficult (although it's pretty last minute already so really don't delay).

Do you know who the baby's father is? You'll be able to apply for child maintenance and you'll get child benefit.

I received income support whilst a student, although I was postgrad so don't know if that makes a difference. I sent a detailed letter outlining how much loan I was due to receive and when, as well as a statement of my fees to demonstrate that my weekly income would be less than the threshold required to receive income support once I'd used the loan to pay the fees. It took a couple of weeks and several phone calls but they eventually sorted my claim. However, as a postgrad you have once fixed loan to do with as you please whereas undergrad has a fee element and a maintenance element.

When I was undergrad, I was granted parental allowance by student finance, so it may be worth giving up on income support and contacting student finance instead. You may get some allowance added into your final loan instalment. There's also Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit that you could look into, although I can't remember if they only start once the baby is born.

I also think you should probably tell your mum. Parental support was so important for me getting everything done as it is really stressful balancing everything. My parents are quite liberal but I was still worried about telling them, as it wasn't ideal circumstances. They were way more supportive than I could have ever imagined.
They have lots of more conservative, religious friends and all of them were really nice about it as well (easy when not their daughter having a baby I know, but they could have been silently judgemental whereas most just went out and bought baby clothes!) It's horrible having the conversation, but it's so much better being on the other side of it. Good luck

Not at all what you asked, but...I disagree with everyone saying to tell your mother. Wait until you've done your dissertation. I think you should have told her - in an ideal world - before now (btw I'm not from that ideal world myself!!), but you need to focus on having as little stress as possible. She's obviously not going to be supportive immediately, so don't jeopardise your degree, which you will need. And obviously if she's not supportive, that adds more stress which isn't good for you or baby.

I know nothing at all about benefits. In my uni days we weren't finished when we'd done the last exam, but when the term/semester finished.