Going back to school...Benefit changes?

[KatWrangler]

Not sure if this belongs here or Working and Student....

My husband has been a Landscape Architect for 22 years. Long story short, he lost his job last May due to what we thought was depression. Turns out he is Bipolar II.

Now, he is finally getting his act together again. He has decided he wants to go back to school and become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. But this will take time. He has several courses he needs to take before he can get a chance to even be on the waiting list for the program. The program itself takes 16 months.

So anyhow, we are on Medicaid and Food Stamps. How does going back to school affect these benefits? In the meantime he has been applying for part time jobs at our local hospitals to get his foot in the door.

He has applied for Financial Aid and requested his transcripts from the University he graduated from.

Suggestions?

[theboysmama]

Because of his diagnosis he might also be able to get help from dvr (department of vocational rahabilitation).
His returning to school should not affect your bennefits unless he makes money as they are income and assett based/
good luck

[zebra15]

When recieving assistance here(az) they ask if anyone -adult- is in school and if they are, that person needs to be employed part time. If that person is not employed part time they can not recieve benefits.

So yes, you can stay home all day and do nothing and recieve full bene's but as soon as you go to school you need a job. Makes perfect sense right?

[KatWrangler]

Our benefits lady just called me back. She said he would have to work 20 hours a week to keep our benefits. She also said check into the work study program at the college.

I asked about Vocational Rehab and she said definately check on that.

Are there any of benefits or programs out there for working students/students with families that I need to look into?

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

Our benefits lady just called me back. She said he would have to work 20 hours a week to keep our benefits. She also said check into the work study program at the college.

I asked about Vocational Rehab and she said definately check on that.

Are there any of benefits or programs out there for working students/students with families that I need to look into?

Yes that is the norm, to be working part time. His financial aid department should have some answers for him as well. keep in mind the "income" from the part time job as well as possiblly the financial aid will need to be reported as income. Those dollars could affect your assistance levels.

Check out grants, scholarships, see if he can find a job that will eventaully pay for him to go to school (part of the benefits package).

Good luck!

[nolansmummy]

We don't have to count the financial aid as income, but like others have said we have to work at least 20hrs per week to receive benefits.

[34me]

The way it works here is going to school actually could prevent you from getting full benefits. It totally sucks. I also read an article just the other day you might be interested in Good Housekeeping magazine about trade schools.

[KatWrangler]

Is is in the current issue or GH?

[34me]

It was June 2010, page 152 - School of Hard Knocks. It's about finding a good career college and what to stay away from. I thought it was a good read as a long time friend was only 3 weeks away from having her ultrasound cert when the government came in and closed the school. Luckily federal loans are underwritten but she had to start all over a month ago.