any idea of income?

[jetcat]

I am toying with the idea of going to university full time, and although i have previously studied at uni (received grants/loans etc) i didnt complete my degree - i left towards the end of the third year. I gained my Dip/Sw qualification at the end of the second year, and got a job mid way through the third year (top up to degree year).

So, the degree course i am looking at now - that is not equal or lower than the quals i already have - is that right?

I have looked on the direct.gov site, and it says i could get the maintenence loan of £3500 or thereabouts, would i still get tax credits, child benefit etc?

Currently i receive IS, TC, CB and DLA and HB/CTB as a single parent with 2 children.

Is there any other single parents who could give me a rough breakdown of what grants/loans etc they receive please?

I don't know if you will be entitled to claim for 3 years of another degree if you have previously claimed. I think that you can only claim a max of 4 years even if you haven't completed the degree.

When I was a single mum at uni I was able to claim the following -

Tax credits
Child benefit
Some housing benefit
Council tax exemption
Maintenance loan
Special support grant
Parent learning allowance
I also got a bursary from the uni.

Good luck.

thanks mia, you are right, i cant claim for a further 3 years. The way the formula works is

present course plus 1 year (= 4 years)
take away x years of previous study (=3 years)

leaving 1 year financial help. So thats out then, as i wouldnt be able to afford the £3500 per year fees. oh well, at least i know now