Advice /Rules on esa income based and doing free courses

Tammyjane33
Tammyjane33 Online Community Member Posts: 755 Pioneering
edited March 2022 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I was wondering if anyone knows the up to date rules on being on Esa income based benefit in 2022 and studying. There are free courses available online that I came across but as they are only 3 month courses I didnt know if people are able to do these without it effecting their esa claim or not as its only a 12 week course, I've explained to my friend that she may have to let the esa /dwp know about this but she believes you don't have to inform them so I'm confused, so was I right in telling her she should let them know?

Thankyou for any advice or facts /of the rules and this would be very much appreciated.
I want to learn more about the rights disabled people have when claiming benefits and studying so if anyone could point me in the right direction with any answers that would also be very gratefully appreciated. (😁I really hope I'm correct as I hate being wrong😂😂😂this is a joke by the way) humour helps me get through the day. 

Comments

  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @Tammyjane33 I'm sorry no one has been able to respond to your query.

    Have you found out anymore about it since you posted?

    My educated guess would be that you don't need to inform them since the course is only 12 weeks. I found this information on part-time study and ESA from Turn2Us:

    "Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

    Contributory ESA

    If you are a part-time student who is not able to work due to illness or disability, you may be entitled to contributory/ New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have previously worked and paid national insurance contributions.

    Income-related ESA

    If you are already receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you might be able to carry on getting it as a part-time student if you are studying 16 hours or less per week.

    If you receive student support in the form of a grant or a loan, this will probably reduce the amount of income-related ESA you can get.

    It is no longer possible to make new claims for income-related Employment and Support Allowance."

    Hopefully that is more helpful than confusing, but do let me know if you feel I can help further.

    Alex

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