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Original poster

Benefits when kids in further education

66 replies

Hueandcry · 18/10/2018 22:39

Please help me as I'm clueless. Single Mum, 2ds aged 16 & 19, Work 24 hours pw, low income. Ds2 left school this year & I've suddenly found myself not entitled to child benefit & tax credit & council tax benefit meaning a deficit of around £600 pm. Really struggling. Knew this would happen when ds turned 18 but expected to still be entitled while he was still in education (college). Anyone else in a similar situation?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 16:58

Came on here for help & advice as struggle to ask for help irl due to depression & anxiety & you make out I'm lying & then swear at me. Lovely!

OP posts:
keyboardjellyfish · 19/10/2018 17:03

You do go straight into a HND actually, it's two years and the first year is a HNC level but you graduate with a HND. I know at least three people in Scotland doing this at aged 16. It's not unusual at all.

OP I'm afraid that HNDs count as higher ed rather than further ed, are they both claiming SAAS and/or EMA? They should be entitled to it, which would take stress off of you.

nellly · 19/10/2018 17:05

I don't think people are suggesting your lying just confused by the details.
If he's in full time education you should still get help. Your daughter needs to be contributing from her student loan and part time job or finding her own place. I had to be self sufficient when I left for uni as my mum was on benefits so I do understand it's tough

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:12

Came on here for help & advice as struggle to ask for help irl due to depression & anxiety & you make out I'm lying & then swear at me. Lovely!

Oh come on! I asked you about it. I even apologised for assuming he left in S4. I may have said 'bloody' but it wasn't even to you directly, just a comment. You are being so defensive. Honestly nothing was intended.

chemenger · 19/10/2018 17:13

It’s perfectly possible to leave at 16 with highers. My DD left sixth year this year and isn’t 18 until early next year. She could have gone to university at 16 after her highers.

MyDcAreMarvel · 19/10/2018 17:13

Op you are extremely rude your ds is doing a HNC next year if he continues he will leave with a HND.

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:13

You do go straight into a HND actually, it's two years and the first year is a HNC level but you graduate with a HND. I know at least three people in Scotland doing this at aged 16. It's not unusual at all.

That what I meant, the DC is doing HNC this year and HND next year.

Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 17:14

Ok so now I understand that they are both in Higher Ed & that's why. Thank you. They both get SAAS which covers their Uni/College Fees & course costs like books, uniform & the biggest cost is bus passes to get there which are ridiculously expensive. They don't have student loans. Their part time jobs pay for clothes, entertainment etc. I don't feel I can expect them to pay board from their earnings. I may have to rethink though..

OP posts:
davisday · 19/10/2018 17:14

It’s perfectly possible to leave at 16 with highers

I know. I made an assumption. It was wrong. I apologised.

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:14

SAAS is their student loan.

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:19

Unless they didn't take them and only have a small bursary, which would be very silly. As a low income family the loans would make a massive difference.

Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 17:20

Neither of them applied for a loan. Saas is payment of course fees in Scotland. They both get a bursary which doesnt have to be repaid & is spent as above.

OP posts:
davisday · 19/10/2018 17:21

I know. They should have done full SAAS. Why did they not? You are struggling to keep these DC's who are financially independent but expecting you to pay them through college and uni?

Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 17:21

What is EMA?

OP posts:
anniehm · 19/10/2018 17:22

Hnd is a higher education course so they are entitled to student loans but not child related support. It's very unusual to start under 18, they require a levels/highers/level 3 qualification that are taken aged 16-18 first

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:23

SAAS deals with fees, loans and bursaries.

Are you sure they wouldn't have taken loans and not said? Did you help them fill out the finance forms?

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:24

EMA is for school or further education. Yours are past that stage.

mimibunz · 19/10/2018 17:24

Can you get a part time job that doesn’t mess you about? That can tide you over until you go full time?

davisday · 19/10/2018 17:27

I don't think OP should be expected to financially support the DC's. Once you move to higher education you are financially independent from your parents. Ok help them out a bit, but they have to help themselves. They sound like a pair of selfish brats tbh. Student loans are made available for students for this reason. To help with living costs etc. They are working part time and spending their cash on the good stuff while OP struggles.

Soontobe60 · 19/10/2018 22:01

So you dripfeed, insult other posters, give inaccurate info and dismiss any advice you're given.
You have no idea about my circumstances. Why would anyone think you had a child that needed you to look after them because they had autism therefore wasn't able to work full time, despite you saying you've now got another part time job? You've been able to work reduced hours because of the benefit system. Good for you. But now your children have left school, they should pay their own way, and if you need more money, then you should work full time. The benefits system shouldn't be subsiding you any more. If you have to look after an elderly parent, then they should claim carers allowance. That's what it's there for!

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 19/10/2018 22:14

They should both be getting over 7k per year in student loans/bursaries. I have two at Uni in Scotland, one of them did a 2 yr HND first.

My DC only get the minimum loan of £4750 pa, but if you income is low, your DC should get a greater amount. My DC both pay for their rented flats with their loan money and work part time for extras to top up what I give them.

If your DC both live at home, you could certainly make up some of your lost money from taking some of their living expenses loan from them, they would have to pay it anywhere else.

Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 23:14

@soontobe60 really not sure who I am supposed to have insulted??

OP posts:
Original poster
Hueandcry · 19/10/2018 23:19

Or where I have given inaccurate info? Mumsnet isn't the place it used to be. Where did all this nastiness come from?

OP posts:
celtiethree · 19/10/2018 23:38

The OP knows what her DC is studying and if her DC has highers they can absolutely go straight into an HND. They don’t need to do an HNC first. A quick look at the Glasgow College website shows that you can start an HND with a minimum entry of 2 highers. My DC is 15 sitting highers, he could if he want apply to uni for entry next year and go at 16.

I can’t help you OP on your benefits question but good luck on getting it sorted.

davisday · 19/10/2018 23:42

celtic. That was cleared up already.

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