Claim for Income Support refused

[wombanonfire]

24-years-old, baby due May 23rd, final year university student with my degree ending in early in May (I literally hand in my last assignment on May 3rd, and then I've officially completed my degree and so will no longer be a university student). Claim for income support was refused on the grounds of my student loan being seen as income, even though my degree ends before my baby is due to be born. I do have one last installment of student loan to receive on April 9th (which I didn't actually mention in my claim application because it wasn't asked about - I was only asked about how much I've received so far and how much I receive in general), but how long does the DWP expect the money from that last installment to last? I still have so much more to buy for the baby, so was relying on that loan instalment to buy things with rather than to solely live off - it won't last forever!

I also live at home with my mum who has no knowledge of my pregnancy (I have no idea how she'll react - very strict/religious/conservative). The stress of this claim refusal alongside that, and the fact that my dissertation is due in about 25 days (this is the most stressful academic period a student can go through), is exactly what I need!

Does anyone else have experience of this? I understand that you can't claim income support if you're a student, but I stop being a student in just over a month (before my baby is born), so surely that changes things???

What's your official uni end date?

I don't think you can apply for Income support in advance, maybe you'll need to wait until your course finishes.

How much is the student loan instalment generally expected to last? Is it still three instalments per year, and therefore expected to last either until the end of the term or until the next instalment would be due (if you continued) which I suppose would be September? If that is the case, are they accounting for the loan being intended to last for those months? It does sound a tricky one and I'm afraid I have no experience in these matters but from the sounds of it you are being sensible following it up. There will obviously be a point where your student loan can't be expected to support you and then perhaps you will qualify for support- but it sounds like you need to find out when that date (The fact that you finish end of May may not make much difference in that respect).

Good luck with your dissertation - I'm currently grappling with a thesis at the moment too and I sympathise as it is tough going - but it does end, I promise, and is worth it! :)

Your baby is due in 2 months. You need to tell your Mum. If there is a possibility she is going to react badly, and worse case ask you to leave, you need to get a lot more sorted than just the dole. Is the father involved? Can he not assist with buying essentials for the baby? You are currently going to be 100% reliant on your mother- she has a right to know there will be a baby appearing in 8 weeks. You can recontact and ask for a reassessment, explaining when money finishes for college.

You live at home and are seven months pregnant and your mum doesn't know?!

You need to what until your last uni payment comes in and then apply.
Uou also need to wait until around 38 weeks pregnant I think if I remember correctly.
Good luck with your dissertation. And of course your pregnancy

• you sorry

Your still officially a student until you graduate normally.

Your student loan is meant to last in the final year to the end of June. Other years it's to the end Of August I believe hence why your final year is less money than previous years.

I doubt you will be able to claim until then, or close to then.

Your claim for income support is the least of your problems here. Surely you need to talk to your mum today and sort this out to make sure that you and your baby have a home?

You offical term end date is the date that student finance covers you until. After baby is born you can claim child tax credits. Then once you have passed the end of term date you can claim income support.

You couldask the university welfare dept for a hardship grant. They can be very generous. But i guess youd need to be quick about that.

Talk to your mum.

And the university welfare team. There is loads of support out there.

You can reapply once you have reached your official term and date. You will need a letter from your uni stating what this official term end date is for your application.

I don't believe that you live with your mum and she doesn't know you are 7 months pregnant

Side issue you can get pretty much everything for babies second hand. There are places which have baby banks of free stuff (a local church to us has an amazing storehouse). Or Nct sales, Facebook selling sites etc . Don’t buy new. X

Baby stuff doesn't have to cost that much when there small, you can buy lots second hand. Also once you tell people your expecting it's amazing how many people have bits from their kids there happy to see put to good use.

Look up maternity grant, its £500 towards baby equipment for first child. If you don't qualify now wait until babies born to apply as child tax credit (which you should also get) are one of the qualifying benefits.

Might also be worth checking if you can get sure start vouchers, only a few pounds a week of veg or victims but if things are tight it will make a difference.

More importantly you really need to tell your mum (amazed she hasn't notice yet).if your not sure of her reaction, I understand why you want to put it off. But whatever happens it will be easyer to sort now the when you have a newborn to look after.

Oh bless you, so much stress for you. I think you should go to citizens advice bureaux for advice on all your benefits rights. In the paperwork where they told you you've been refused income support, did it say you have a right to appeal? As if so, do it and add more detail about your income and when that will run out. Around 50% of appeals are successful - they just make applications v difficult and many people don't have the energy to appeal but they were entitled. You also sound eligible for maternity allowance and maternity grant.

I agree with others that you need to speak to your mum. What are you thinking? When are you planning to do it? I realise she may react badly but I'm sure she'll appreciate some time to get her head round it rather than finding out when baby's here. You have so much on your plate it is probably hard to think clearly about this but it's going to be a shock whenever you tell her and it's true that you need to know her thoughts to help you make plans. If she can't accept it in the long term then you may be better off presenting as homeless and getting housed by yourself. Poor love, I'm sure this is going to work out ok in the long run but it is scary for you just now.