Expenses for family member education during UC claim.

rbz

Today received message from UC decision maker.

They wrote:

"… we were not able to disregard the £15,710.00 (University fees and expenses) as it does not fall under any of the prescribed circumstances which would allow this…"

But no detailed information under which legislation they don't allows us pay for our daughter education.

Because our daughter studying in University by this reason we stopped receiving Tax Credits under our daughter name, as well after migration to UC, we also can't add our daughter because of same rules.

Very strange. If our daughter studying in College, there no problems to use money for education, but if studying in University - we can't use our savings to pay for her education.

Still awaiting final decision (decision maker messed some information on the system and can't calculate award. Decision maker told us that don't know who and why updated information on the system) and have plans to place Mandatory reconsideration and if needs go to Tribunal.

Any idea why DWP can restrict some spendings. Any legislation allow to do this?

poppy123456

I remember a previous thread of yours when you mentioned the fees you paid for your daughter with your capital. I had a feeling that they may not allow that.

It’s most likely because for University students there would be a student loan she could claim for. This would pay for student fees and extra for living expenses.

If I find any UC regulations that may help i will post them here.

In the meantime I’d advise you to get some expert advice from Welfare Rights or a law centre near you. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

anisty

@rbz - it's not the difference between college and university that counts.

It is the difference between FURTHER education and HIGHER education.

Once a young person moves out of further education - whether that be into work, uni, or any study beyond A level, the state will not support that.

In the old days when i went to uni, a grant was available from your local council. But, grants were replaced by loans.

It's the same with Child Benefit - that stops once a child enters higher education or work.

Higher education is a privilige - again when i went to uni, most of my friends had to go into work at 16 to help contribute to the family income.

Not as many could afford to go. It was Labour's policy back in the early naughties to give everyone the chance to go to uni. Grants were replaced by loans and now more people expect to be able to go.

But it all has to be paid for - and that cost now falls upon the student. Either by working all hours alongside their degree or by taking a large loan. Or a bit of both.

The state cannot afford to support higher level education. That's the long and short of it.

rbz

@anisty

thanks for your message.

My question were focused just on my family circumstances. We pay for our daughter education since September 2022.

We started to claim UC from July 2024 (migration from Tax Credits). These payments - just normal task for our family, we have no plans to intentionally reduce our savings.

This is normal spendings for our family.

Still awaiting (already over 3 weeks) response from DWP about grounds why our spendings were treated like capital deprivation.

By law we can spend our saving without any restrictions and DWP have no evidence about "deprivation of capital".

anisty

Yes, I understand what you're saying but I'm thinking your daughter must be 18 (adult) to be at uni. Therefore UC paid to you must be to support you and any dependent children you have with the basic living costs.

UC is not normally paid to adult students; they are expected to take the loan like any other student would be.

I would guess that from DWPs point of view, if you have sufficient UC left over after you have paid your living costs, then you are receiving more money than you need to live and they want it back!