Debt advice and other things…

[BitcherOfBlakiven]

Long, sorry. But I’ve had enough.

I have 2 CCJs totalling around £5,000
Behind on gas and electric by a few hundred - house is an old 3 bed terrace with cellar and attic bedroom which is always freezing

I’m a student (second year)
35, lone parent of 3

Can’t get a part time job as my STEM degree is 35 hours a week contact time plus many hours of outside study.

Live off student loans, UC and only get child support for 2/3 DC

(CMS have been useless with my youngest as he’s a job hopping addict, I’ve had around £1000 over 6 years ), he doesn’t see her, one of the CCJs for £3000 is something he took out in my name during our marriage (financially abusive amongst other things), one is my own fault/contentious issue with a daycare I used to use who refused to fill out the relevant childcare grant forms after my daughter had a serious accident there and I reported them to OFSTED.

I also have ADHD which means I’m shite with money, it isn’t helped by UC being paid monthly, student loans in October/January/April.

I’m past the end of my S21, waiting for temp accommodation as I can’t get a private rent because of my CCJs and the fact that loans and UC and child support aren’t classed as income.

I pay my rent 4 months at a time as it’s just easier that way, however since the end of my S21 I now pay monthly which is fine.

My MH is fucking dire but I’ve been under a Psychiatrist for 2 years so it’s well controlled (ish).

I’ll dig up my paperwork and see exactly how much I get per year, but the payments are all spread out and I need to get a grip on them and figure out the best ways to clear what I owe.

I need/want to do a Masters (Public Health) in order to further expand my career options/salary, will have to do it part time as I’ll need to work part time to cover bills, and I’d like to clear as much as I can before then.

DD2 has ASD/ADHD and I’m waiting on a DLA decision, my PIP is only £90 a month.

I don’t have any family to ask - only my Grandparents who have never been in debt, they’ve never had a mortgage (lucky sods bought outright when they were 18!) so wouldn’t know where to start advising me and they would be horrified (rightly so).

So I’m here, asking for help.

Sorry you're having a hard time but it sounds like there's light at the end of the tunnel when you graduate and will be able to work.

It sounds like a debt relief order might be available to you, or failing that, you need a way to 'pause' your debt until you're working full time.

In the meantime, you absolutely shouldn't be skimping on heating or other essentials to pay off debts, so you should only pay a token amount of £1 per month to show willing, if you can demonstrate you can't afford more after rent, bills, food, essential travel, childcare, other DC costs etc etc.

Does your university offer advice on student hardship, especially for parents/lone parents? Have you done a benefit check?

You need formal help but first you need to set out a clear picture of your incomings and outgoings. Have a look at Moneysaving Expert, complete the budget planner, and follow the signposting to services that can assist. Good luck

www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan/

Have a look at your uni's financial page or phone them, there are grants for supplies (internet, printer, ink) they may do one for utilities (I'm not sure), are you a carer for your DC? There's a carers grant to which is a one off payment that may help.
As pp said dfo would be helpful, speak to step change, they're amazing and so helpful. They can set up and liaise with the debt companies. Utility debt can also be included.
I hope you find the help you need, good luck with your course

www.cap.org.uk

Sorry

www.capuk.org

At this stage, I wouldn’t be looking at a Masters degree. They’re expensive and not guaranteed to help your career, especially if you’re not getting any work experience from your course. I’d graduate, work full time for a while to build up your experience and get something on your CV and maybe consider a Masters in a few years, if you still feel it would benefit you.

I know people that have spent that many years studying but not working and they’ve really struggled to find the work afterwards.

In the meantime, I would make a list of outgoings and income. You could look at opening a Monzo account as this has various pots that you can split money up into. It would help with budgeting, especially with your income coming in at random times.

You need to get some professional advice from someone who can look at all of your circumstances and help you to understand the best way forward. Try your university/student union advice service, or look to see whether there is specialist advice available at your local CAB, law centre or other advice charity.

You can ask for your Uc to be paid twice a month if that helps with budgeting.

Payplan were helpful in the past with me, you can find them online.

I would agree at this point you should put on hold the idea of a masters. Without relevant work experience I don’t think it would impact your career/ salary at this stage.

I would also tap into any finance support/advice the university can offer you. I think at this stage you just need someone to sit down with you with all the paperwork to see what your exact situation is before you can make a clear plan.

I appreciate the comments re a Masters - the other opportunity is a paid PhD (20K) which is extremely competitive, but is the other thing I’ll be applying for (didn’t mention it because it’s a long shot - although I did a 6 week paid placement at my Uni last summer and have just been accepted for another one this summer which does give me a leg up as it’s working with the people who do the hiring for the PhD - but still, long shot!).

I’ll contact SU today and look at PayPlan.

Give step change a ring. They are so helpful and no judgement. I'm on a debt management plan through them has made things a lot easier.

I believe to do the funded PhD, which is indeed extremely competitive, you must be working for the NHS already at B7, so that is not an option for you.

I agree that the best thing for you moving forward is to get a FT job in that field after you graduate. You might find that the organisation might be prepared to fund your masters whilst you work.

Doing a Masters with little work experience will not take you far. You'll have to start very low, as an assistant and then they might consider that you are overqualified.