Is anyone a full-time undergraduate? Any advice re: benefits?

[spacedonkey]

I have a chance to start a full time degree course starting next October. I can see I'd need a student loan to cover tuition fees, and would qualify for a maintenance grant, but wondered if anyone knows if I'll be able to apply for housing/council tax benefits while I'm studying full time?

I'm hunting for this info on the internet, but thought it was worth posting here for any first-hand advice!

are you single parent? i was when i started my degree, got child tax credit instead of income support, help with childcare, hb, ctb - infact ended up £10 per week better off. call tax credit helpline, they were very good with info

Spacedonkey, that's such great news! I'm of no help whatsoever, but I'm really pleased for you.

i'm a full time student and get a discount on council tax. Not sure of the specifics but get in touch with council tax offices and they'll be able to advise you better.

Thanks for the advice jinglinggoblin and screwyslittlechristmascrackers and HELLO MAOMAO! Hardly ever see you on here any more - how are things? X

i am fulltime student and get

child tax credit
half my rent paid from housing benefit
free council tax as fulltime
child benefit
student loan- 4/5 grand
parental grant- 1300 a year
childcare grant- 85% of childcare

i find i am so much better off being a student. and if you can't live on all that, you can get extra help from your uni called a access to learning fund- if you find yourself in a situation waiting for loan etc

I am considering going to uni on a full time course but not sure about the money side as I have a morgage any ideas?
I don't pay for childcare either.

slinksanta, that's pretty good!

Thinking about it, I doubt I would be entitled to any benefits as my children don't live with me full-time any more (they used to - I was a single parent for 6 years, but now they live with their dad and just stay with me weekends and holidays).

So I will probably just carry on and do my degree with the OU, which offers financial assistance to cover course fees to anyone on a low income. I could do two 60 point courses per year which is roughly equivalent to a full-time degree course (360 points = an honours degree).

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