Student finance and becomming part time student

theonelemon

Hi i get IR esa and pip and i applied at OU for biomedical science (part time) i have a couple of questions

Do i have to take the maintance loan/if i dont will they still treat as i took it anyway and reduce benefits. the tuition loan is going right to the school

Do i have contact DWP telling them im studying or will they find out via SF

Will my ESA stop if i study?

i claim esa for my mental health and DID (personality disorder) This is a remote course not on campus

is it worth claiming for DSP

theonelemon

dsp i mean

Disabled Students' Allowance

not dsp lol

poppy123456

If there's a maintenance loan available to you then it will affect your means tested benefits, regardless of whether you take that loan or not.

Loans for fees will not affect your benefits. Yes, you can. be a student and continue with your current benefits.

For the DSA if there's things you need to help with your course then yes you can apply. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa

theonelemon

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/963975#Comment_963975

if i show them evidence i dint take the loan for mataince will they dis-regard it.

Kimmy87

No, as Poppy advised unfortunately if a loan is available then it's counted whether you took it or not.

theonelemon

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/963979#Comment_963979

weird cause my bf had same issue showed them he dint take it and said ok and left it at that(dint effect him) hence i asked

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/963981#Comment_963981

Then that was incorrect or it wasn’t a maintenance loan he had. The advice given here is correct.

theonelemon

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/964051#Comment_964051

he got loan for OU and declined the matiance loan he had show that he dint get anything and they was fine with it.

theonelemon

so i dont understand why his case is special but ur saying it will be taken anyway

poppy123456

Please see this link here on the Rightsnet forum, which are Welfare Rights expert advisors. They give the same advice I have just given. https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/19326/#91230