Universal Credit Help

[Musicmother123]

Hi I have name changed for this. I hope I am posting this on the right board!

I started my postgraduate degree in september, as a mature student, but it is something I have always wanted to do and I have just started a new part time job.

Anyhow, I may be single soon and am starting to panic about money. I have checked online and cannot see any calculators to show how much uc I may be entitled too as a pg student. I currently get tax credits but our area has switched so a new claim as a single mum will now be uc.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find this info out? I understand that my pg loan will now be taken into account as income (which doesn't seem right as it is a loan however I am sure that is a whole other story).

Thank you for any help anyone can give me.

Agree its ridiculous that loans are considered income!

As an undergrad, most of my student loans etc were classed as income, so your best bet is probably to assume it all will be.

UC is worked out based on an allowance for you, an amount for your children, and an amount for your rent. You then get deductions based on any income you have - if you are renting you don't lose any money for the first £287 you earn, after that you lose 63p for every £1 you earn. If you don't pay rent then it's a higher amount that you can earn.

I think your student finance is deducted £1 for £1 from the UC award.