Daughter starting uni on LCWRA

Sprog123

My query is regarding my daughter. She was awarded lcwra on September 20th 2021 before starting a uni course on the 27th of September. All her universal credit application and lcwra was dealt with via her work coach. She also receives pip. After applying for an advance recently she received a call saying her benefits should not have been paid at all and she will owe all the money back. Any advice would be much appreciated. She has always provided everything they have asked for and was awarded lcwra before her studies started. They were made aware of her intentions to do a course before her lcwra was awarded and were provided with student finance information too which is below the threshold for amount she is allowed to earn

poppy123456

If there's a student maintenance loan available to her it will affect the amount of UC she's entitled to, even if she decides not to take the loan. Loans for students fees are ignored. Any disabled student allowance is ignored.

Sprog123 said:

were provided with student finance information too which is below the threshold for amount she is allowed to earn

Student finance isn't earnings, so the earnings disregard for the work allowance doesn't apply here. Students and UC are very complicated so i'd advise you to get some expert advice from an agency near you or ring the disabled students helpline and they maybe able to advise you with the deductions for UC. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline

Please also be aware that any overpayments for UC are recoverable, even if it was their fault.

Sprog123

Thank you Poppy, I am really horrified by all of this. She has LCWRA and her claim and maintenance loan amounts were sent to the dwp. They are saying she is not eligible at all. Her LCWRA was in place before she began the course and she fits all of the pre Dec 2021 criteria for eligibility. She also fits all criteria now. Would the CAB be the best point of call?

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Sprog123 you can search for an adviser local to you using Advice Local, you can enquire with Citizens Advice, and Turn2Us also have advisers you can contact. I hope they can help! 

I wish your daughter all the best for her course in September, what's she due to study?  

poppy123456

Any advice agency that's local to you. See link see what's available. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

However, depending on what deductions there are because of the maintenance loan, they may not be any entitlement to UC at all.