Open university and maintenance loan — Scope | Disability forum
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Open university and maintenance loan

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sarzeusandeds
sarzeusandeds Community member Posts: 8 Listener
in Education
Hi,

I've applied to start studying at the open university from October, I have applied for student finance to tuition fees and it also gave me the option of a maintenance loan too, so I applied for both. Today I received an email saying I need to send further evidence for my maintenance loan which include a letter from my GP about why I can't study in a class room (I suffer really bad mental health and anxiety attacks) and also about any benefits I claim , I currently get pip but it's saying if I claim pip I must also claim either universal credit or ESA but I don't get either of these, I don't work and my partner is above the threshold for us to get any universal credit. I tried to speak to student finance on the phone to explain this but he just didn't understand what I was saying. Has anyone managed to get the maintenance loan with just a letter from their GP and their pip notice?

Thanks for reading if you got this far! It's really stressing me out . 
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  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,688 Disability Gamechanger
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    If you need to be claiming ESA or UC then it sounds like you won't qualify for the ML
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

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  • sarzeusandeds
    sarzeusandeds Community member Posts: 8 Listener
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    It's crazy because it says it will deduct any maintenance loan from your UC or ESA so it would be totally pointless claiming it as it doesn't sound like your any better off? 
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  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,688 Disability Gamechanger
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    From memory (which might not be 100%correct) I think they only deduct it on so many weeks of the years will be worth checking with student finance again or even someone at the OU
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

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  • sarzeusandeds
    sarzeusandeds Community member Posts: 8 Listener
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    I can't claim anything so I've nothing to be deducted which is why I'm trying to figure out if I can even claim it? I get pip but nothing else so don't know 
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  • bg844
    bg844 Community member Posts: 3,887 Disability Gamechanger
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    This link may help you:
    https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline

    I can't see why they are asking for evidence of a UC/ESA award anyway, if you do claim one of these any Maintenance Loan you are entitled to (even if you don't choose to take) is deducted in full (minus a £110 disregard per month and split over the number of months you are studying for). PIP isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter on that front. I do know it is difficult to get an ML when using the OU. Good luck contacting them on the link above.
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