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Postgraduate loan, UC, and student income deductions

Grizzy77

Hello everyone,
I started claiming universal credit with my husband just after finishing the 1st year of an MA with the Open University for which I have been getting a postgraduate loan ( £5785 for each of the 2 years). I am classed as having LCWRA. My 1st year was from February to October 2022. I got my first UC payment in November 2022 and £144.62 was deducted for "student income". However, at that time I was on a break between my 2 years, so should have had the full amount of UC. They carried on deducting the same amount amount every month even though I didn't start my 2nd year until February 2023. Also, according to the info I found on the website Universal credit essentials (https://www.uceplus.co.uk/england), the amount that has been deducted every month is wrong. For a postgrad loan, only 30% is taken into consideration as income. So £1735.5 per year. Only the student income for my 2nd year should have been deducted, so 1735.5 divided by 12 months= 144.62. According to UC essentials, £110 is then substracted to the amount, so 114.62-110=34.62. So I should have had £34.62 deducted for 12 months.
Am I correct or am I misunderstanding the information? Are other people in this situation?

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Grizzy77

Hi Biblioklept,
my first year ran from Feb to Oct 2022. I started my UC claim in October 2022 and got the first payment in November 2022 (and the first deduction). My second year ran from Feb to Oct 2023. I thought I had to count 12 months for an academic year, but maybe not?

Grizzy77

Yes, I think I am going to ask them next. Thank you so much for your reply Biblioklept.