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Original poster

Nursing student/ financial struggle

20 replies

Minicooper3 · 10/07/2018 17:09

Hello, I am 3rd year nursing student. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and really worried about my financial situation. Before I got pregnant I used to do some night shifts on the bank(agency). However this job does not pay maternity leave. I'm currently getting £90 a month through my bursary. I have spoken to uni and they can't help me with anything as I'm dependant on my parents income and live at home. Therefore the only thing that I will be getting is child tax which I don't think will be enough to support my baby. I'm extremely worried and don't know what to do or who to ask for help 😔

OP posts:
Rocinante1 · 10/07/2018 17:12

As a student, won't you get income support? And you will get child benefit.

What plans did you make for the pregnancy and child?

Original poster
Minicooper3 · 10/07/2018 17:17

Because my course starts February to January and baby is due in September I have decided to stay on as from October it's just placement and no more theory. However I'm planning on having a month off.
They said that they can't help with anything which is terrifying as I won't get any income support. I was hoping my bursary would as there is a section where you fill in if you have a child but they said that my situation is very complex so I honestly don't know what to do and what help to seek.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 10/07/2018 17:47

The baby's father ??

PlayingForKittens · 10/07/2018 18:11

Are you getting the student loan as well as bursary? There should be money available through that such as parents learning allowance. But yes as a full time student you don't get income support etc.
Child tax credits and child allowance will help lots. Babies don't have to be expensive, they really don't need much other than a couple of supermarket packs of sleep suits for the first 6 months or so.

Will you parents be caring for the baby when you are on placement? Placements are pretty tough as I'm sure you know, would you consider taking longer out? Several people I did midwifery with recently took maternity leave, some took 6 months and joined back in with the cohort behind, others took a full year, the bursary still gets paid when you are on mat leave. It would be bloody difficult to get through with a teeny tiny baby.

Original poster
Minicooper3 · 10/07/2018 18:35

@PlayingForKittens hi, yeah I'm getting the student loan which is not due to be paid till October and it's only £200. My family has helped me a lot and my nan is going to come from Spain to look after the baby for 2 months till I qualify. I will see if I can manage with placement as I only have that left and then I'm done.
I just don't know who to contact about any benefits available. I might just fill in the forms available online and see what I can get I suppose.

OP posts:
MuddlingThroughMidwifeMum · 10/07/2018 18:40

You could enquire at student services at your University regarding hardship grants and bursaries. Also I believe that once you have a child you would be classed as an independent student rather than dependant on your parents and would therefore qualify for more money from student finance. There should be student finance calculators to help you work out your new entitlement.

Hamiltoes · 10/07/2018 18:42

Can you do 2x8hr shifts of bank work a week? Because this 16hrs would qualify you for working tax credit as well as child tax credit and this would help a lot! I don't know how that works with placement though I'm sorry.

The site entitledto is very good and there are calculators on there that will give you a pretty accurate figure of what you'll get. Do it as if you had the baby yesterday to see.

But as a pp said, babies really don't have to cost a fortune and there is a huge difference between what they actually need and what a lot of first time parents actually buy.

A baby bath for example, I thought this was so important! Used it once then used the sink. A tommee tippee (if not breastfeeding), completely unnecessary when the machine just uses filtered tap water and a hot shot- you can do this yourself with a kettle for the hot shot and a jug of filtered water. Clothes are over rated, babygrows are cheap and all they need til they're active. Check gumtree and facebook for second hand prams. You get the idea. Best of luck OP

Hamiltoes · 10/07/2018 18:43

Also is the sure start grant of £500 still available? Worth checking this as it would cover all the one off big essential purchases.

PlayingForKittens · 10/07/2018 19:11

Right, 3rd time lucky. My post keeps not posting!

Surestart grant. Yes. You have to be getting certain benefits which you can't claim as a student. BUT once you are getting child tax credit you can apply. You have up to 3 months after the birth to get it so register baby as soon as you can and send off for child allowance and then child tax credit then claim the surestart grant.

Phone student finance. You may be classed as independent after baby comes and so eligible for more finance support. I know I was but that is over 10 year ago.

But remember the baby is only small for a short time and will need you more than anyone else. The degree isn't going anywhere though I do understand wanting to just finish. Remember you might not be physically able to go back, e.g. if you have a section there is no way you can go back to nursing shifts after 4 weeks. And things like breastfeeding will be affected too.

Good luck to you. You can do it.

19lottie82 · 10/07/2018 19:25

Why are your bursary and loan payments so low?

Babyroobs · 10/07/2018 20:25

You need to find out firstly whether it will be child tax credits you claim or Universal credit. You will also get child benefit of £20.70 a week. You won't get any help with housing as you live with your parents. You can claim child maintainance.

Original poster
Minicooper3 · 10/07/2018 20:46

Thank you @Hamiltoes @PlayingForKittens for your messages. I have got most baby stuff already second hand as I can't afford all new. I am just worried about when baby is born and managing to pay for food, bills etc.

@19lottie82 My income is low because I'm still dependant on my parents income.

I have rang the bursary and they said that unless I get married that won't change. I have rang hm revenue and they said that I can get the £500 for when the baby is born and child benefit. I am not sure how to go about the universal credit? Is that hm revenue that I need to contact for that?

OP posts:
BischBaschBosch · 10/07/2018 20:52

What has changed between the plans you made pre-conception and now?

Babyroobs · 10/07/2018 20:52

You will either get universal credit or child tax credit depending on the area you live in . UC is administered by the DWP .

Xenia · 11/07/2018 08:37

This is one reason we need to sort this country out and by that I mean the men of this country! Women all over suffer because men don't pay. The father should be taking on even a weekend job to ensure there is no extra drain on state resources and this keen young nurse can qualify.

Could he not be persuaded to marry you and also do a lot of babysitting too rather than your grandmother have to do it all? By the way I went back to work full time when my first baby was 2 weeks old and that worked fine in terms of being able to support her etc even though in the early days half our income went on childcare costs! It was an investment in future career. We were however married. I was 22.

MessySurfaces · 11/07/2018 20:29

Hmmm if he's not the right chap and it's all a bit of a shock then marriage is not a great plan...

BackforGood · 11/07/2018 20:38

.....but it might be helpful to give some information, as the OP is asking for advice. Whether you are going to continue a relationship or not, he still has responsibilities.

BIWI · 11/07/2018 20:47

So what about the baby's father?

And if you're still at home, surely your parents can help with the bills - because they'll be their bills anyway?

Castl3onb0at · 13/07/2018 08:13

Food bank and donate in the future when you are working and able to

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