UC/LCWRA/PIP: how will a masters degree impact my UC entitlement?

bongo4
bongo4 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
edited January 30 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi all, new here and looking for some advice.

I'm currently in receipt of UC, LCWRA and PIP, and am interested in a (full-time, remote) postgraduate degree. The only thing putting me off is how the deductions would impact my finances. I haven't applied for the course yet, but if I got the full 12k loan (and used just over 10k of it to instantly pay for the tuition fee), where would I stand with my UC? One person told me I'd get deductions of over 900, which is more than I even get from UC (+ LCWRA), yet another said the deductions would only be around 140.

For context:

26. Rent with partner who works full time. Get around 850 after deductions (UC + LCWRA). Degree would be a year.

I'm still waiting for someone at the job centre to get back to me to discuss this, which is why I'm posting here.

I primarily get LCWRA due to my physical disability. I can provide any more info if needed :) I'm autistic, so please be considerate x

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,467 Championing

    Part of the loan will be for the fees and part will be a maintenance loan. The maintenance loan is what they will use to calculate your UC. Even if you use most of the loan to pay the fees, it will make no difference to UC and the deductions. How it affects it will depend on how much the loan is and how many months the course is based on and usually it's 9 or 10 months, sometimes 11 months.

    There will be a £110 month disregard and then the rest will reduce your UC £1 for £1.

    For example, if your maintenance loan is £6,000 and it's based on 9 assessment periods. To work out the deduction for UC you divide the number of month by the amount of maintenance loan and then minus £110 and that will be your deduction for UC each assessment period.

    So £6,000 divided by 9 = £666.66/month - £110 disregard. Deduction for UC each month would be £566.66/month.

    Please note that the figures I've used are just random amounts.

    If you have a special support element or Disabled Student allowance this will be disregarded.

    More information here that may help you.

    https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/funding/full-time-undergraduate-funding/student-income-and-universal-credit

    You can also contact the Disabled Students Helpline who will also be able to answer any further questions you have. Telephone: 0330 995 0414

    https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline

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