Pregnant and starting a degree

[thinkingaboutfostering]

My friend is currently six weeks pregnant. Father doesn't want to know. She was planning to study through ou to do a social work degree starting in the autumn. Has anyone here been in this situation. She currently works as a carer in a nursing home gets sown housing benefit. Could anyone advise as to what she would be entitled to and if it would still be possible to go to uni and manage a baby. Thanks

I had a baby when I was in my first year of uni, I was a single parent too. It is tough but many do it. Mine was a full time degree in a science subject so quite long hours, but no work placements to worry about which I suppose she might have to do.

I got a grant, loan, bursary, extra allowances for child/dependents, access to learning fund, housing benefit (about half my rent paid), child tax credits, and child benefit. I got income support during the summer vacation so no need to find work. So it was financially fine. No council tax as students don't pay council tax, not sure if it would be the same with OU. There will be some student advice service linked to the university, they are the best people to check with benefit/loans. The council/jobcentre were pretty useless though and didn't really know how benefits would work with my student loans. The online benefits calculators can't really cope with student income either, so she shouldn't rely on them for an accurate calculation.