Don't know whether to go to uni - can't afford to survive on student loan?

[MummytoCSJH]

This will be a medium-long post, before you start reading

I am 19 with a 3yo DS. His father and I are not together but he goes there every other weekend as he lives about 70 miles away. I have just finished college and get my A Level results next week. The uni I want to go to has given me an place (as have others), but it is in Liverpool. This is the only university that does the course I want. I am near Leeds. I will have to commute every day because I currently rent a house and obviously my son cannot come into student accommodation with me. Due to my own health issues I need to be close to family, so renting in Liverpool isn't really an option. However student loans being classed as income, I will no longer get as much housing benefit and no income support. Even though I have sent a detailed break down of my loan, HB won't give me a 'hypothetical amount'. But I kind of need to know before I accept the loan - to know if I can afford to go. My travel is going to cost around £6,000 a year. My loan is £9,600 in total. The remainder does not cover rent in the worst scenario (no HB), bills, 15% of childcare and other essentials for both of us. Obviously I will still get Child Benefit and Tax credits for my son and the childcare grant does cover 85% of the cost of childcare I need. The university offer special support which is can apply for - ONCE I'm at the uni. If I did that and they deny me help then I am in debt for nothing. I have spoken to DWP, Student Finance and The university financial advisors and they're all clueless or telling me I definitely won't be worse off. But I've been applying and working this out for over a year and if my calculations are correct and the online HB calculator is right then I simply can't afford to go.
I really don't know what to do. The only job I've had was a family business one, I don't have much experience although I have volunteered. Because of my health issues jobs I have applied for say they can't insure me at the time being. I am on a waiting list for surgery for this issue.

My options are

• accept loan, go to uni, all goes well and I get some extra HB and therefore can just about scrape the barrel for 3 years
• accept loan, go to uni, can't afford everything and therefore have to quit leaving me in debt for a qualification I never got
• apply to a closer uni next year for a course I don't want, be miserable for 3 years (and the rest of my life) knowing it's not what I really want to do with my life, but be financially okay
• don't go to uni, keep trying to get a job with little experience and worsening health issues
• don't go to uni, stay on benefits, never do better

I don't want to be a mum who just sits on benefits because I am not like that. I went into parenthood with my eyes wide open, knowing it would be hard - but how can they expect people to do better when there is literally no way nor support to do so?!

Is anyone else a single parent on uni who gets a loan? How do you deal with this?

A benign one or one you need treatment for? Is this really the best time?
Listen I hear you. I went to uni. I have three sons, two with aspergers, single parent, two degrees, teacher part time and have a tumour in my bowel.
I am the queen of pushing the envelope....
Even I am thinking hang fire :) and my second degree is forensics (Kent)
If you want to chat message me. I think more planning is required though. And the US would be a nightmare for you with medical insurance. This all needs a rethink (sorry)

You sound like you have really researched the subject and career; awesome. Like I say, a lot more mature than I was at the same age!
But could you speak to Liverpool and ask to defer your place for a year? That way you can recover from your surgery, get a decent financial plan in place (even move if needed), and your DS will be nearing school age which will hopefully help too. Might also give your DS's dad time to pull his socks up and support his child as well.

Don't give up, but I think it would be awful if the logistics defeated you, so better to get those as smooth as possible first.

Ok, you say you want to work in the US but it's still very limiting. Have you considered the logistics of trying to work in the US? I know you've mentioned placements there during the course but you have your son, how would you do a placement year in a strange country with him?

I'm really sorry that you're in a situation where you're having to make such a hard choice. Unfortunately it's a sad fact that higher education is so ridiculously expensive these days that it is becoming unattainable for people especially as the maintenance loans available aren't designed to cover childcare or long commutes really.

I would consider a worst case scenario and whether you can risk being left with a potential shortfall on your housing benefits, which from what you've said would leave you in arrears and potentially risk you and your son being left homeless and/or force you to abandon the course anyway.

I have an academic background in chemistry and biology and have tutored a level students including people in a similar situation to you. Honestly I know this is a bit gutting to hear but the a levels and btec you have are not an ideal background to your chosen course. You may struggle with some of the content and have to put extra time in to pick up some of the content that others will already know which is going to impact more on your time.

I would take a year and take a levels in biology and chemistry, or a foundation year. Then reapply to an alternative university or a different course with a view to doing an accredited MSc. I know that is not the option you wanted but it will be available much closer to home and the time commitment will be lower than a BSc so you can maybe work to meet the costs, and maybe even save to offset the impact of your course next year?

Also I'm not sure if I understood correctly but if you are due to have major surgery while doing the course? That will have a huge impact on your learning and may well necessitate taking a whole year out so maybe taking 1-2 years then starting later would work out better in the long run?

I know it feels like that's very frustrating but you are so young! You have loads of time, in the grand scheme of things another year or two is nothing

My partner has a daughter from a previous relationship and she stays with us 1 night a week and he has to pay child support so I don't understand why your ex doesn't?

Like she explained no income..... works cash in hand.