How does going to university affect your benefits?

cjk15

I just wondered if anyone had any insight on how going back to university would impact me financially when I have been claiming UC and LWCRA? I am looking to do a masters degree January 2025 and waiting to see if I have been accepted on the course.

I’ve rang student finance and what they told me doesn’t align with what’s online so I am confused and was looking for someone with real experience of this.

She told me that I can claim full student loan and an extra top up as I am disabled and that being on benefits doesn’t affect student finance but getting student finance would affect my benefit amount or could be reduced significantly.

I’ll be honest, I don’t mind getting no benefits anymore. I am just concerned that if I go to university, they will calculate what support I’ve had off the government already and will receive a lower amount of student finance. This makes me worried I won’t be afford to do the course and no one can give me definitive answers. Reading online it says claiming benefits does affect student finance which is the opposite of what SFE have told me today.

I wondered with me being on UC/LCWRA if I was to go to university would I still get the normal amount of student finance and not a lower amount because I’ve recently been on benefits.

any help would be greatly appreciated

Wheeled_Weapon

When I did the migration to UC from ESA, one of the questions was whether I'm in full time education.

So an 'educated' guess is that part time is okay, full time may be trickier to navigate.

I'm sure someone who knows a lot more than me will be along soon to give you a better answer 😄