Hi, I am Melanie, ask me questions about being a disabled student now

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  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 507 Empowering
    TBH I am now getting a bit confused; This is what I found: so it mentions "Special support grant" in the second list as being one of the grants/loans that is ignored even for the means tested benefits listed in the first group.
    I think you probably need more expert financial/benefits advice.  Good luck

    Benefits where student support is taken into account

    Student loans or grants are taken into account as income for means-tested benefits, such as:

    However, even for these benefits, some grant or loan income is ignored, including:

    •    Fixed amounts for travel costs and books/equipment
    •    Any allowance for tuition fees
    •    A disabled student's allowance
    •    An allowance to cover the cost of residential study
    •    Any amount for childcare costs
    •    A parent's learning allowance
    •    A higher education grant
    •    A special support grant
    •    A higher education bursary for care leavers.



  • tru88le
    tru88le Posts: 200 Contributor
    Hi melanie
     I'd like to finish my degree course from a good few years ago, i have the points from my first year and have been told they can be used towards a course but i wasnt disabled then and left the course to be a carer and rely on benefit money now so
    Would it cost me financially to do this or is their any assistance available to make it possible?
    Could a course be dine online?
    Thanks
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,453 Championing
    Hi @tru88le,

    Is this in relation to Universal Credit? You might find this page on the Turn2Us website useful. It states the following:
    Can full-time students claim Universal Credit?

    If you are a student, you can only claim Universal Credit if:
    • You are under 21, taking  a course that leading to a qualification at the same level as or below A levels (such as Scottish Highers, NVQ up to level 3) and you do not and cannot live with your parents; or
    • You are responsible for a child; or
    • You are over Pension Credit age; or
    • You live with a partner who can claim Universal Credit; or
    • You have taken time out from your course for illness or caring responsibilities, are now recovered/your caring responsibilities have ended, and you are waiting to go back to your course.
    Claimant commitment

    To be able to get Universal Credit, everyone has to agree to a claimant commitment.

    If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course, you may be expected to take some actions as part of your claimant commitment. You will have to talk with your work coach to find out.

    If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student under 21 doing a course that leads to qualifications up to A level standard, you will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment.

    If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student and you receive student income such as a grant or loan, you will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment.

    Even if you don’t fall into either of these two groups, you might not have to do anything under the normal rules on claimant commitments.
    Are you eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance (gov.uk)? 

    As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, some universities have changed the way they teach. Have you spoken to your university about whether online learning would be an option? You can read about reasonable adjustments at university on Scope's website.

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