Universal credit and student finance maintenance loan

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Haider57389556

I have a question about claiming student finance and universal credit at the same time

I was claiming universal credit with housing element , I am getting also low ability of work and work activities and pip, I applied for student finance part time study

i did not know I can’t claim both at the same time, I was awarded maintenance loan as well, the universal credit contact me to assess my claim, they asked if I am studying , I told them I am studying and getting student finance, they sent me a letter asking about my course details and how much I am getting from student finance and the course start and finish date. I am so scared and started to read that I should’ve told them when I start getting student finance.

Would my case be considered fraud ? 

poppy123456

All changes need to be reported and yes you should have told them that you're in college. Maintenance loans affect the amount of UC you're entitled to. Any overpayment will need to be repaid back so your future UC payments will be reduced until it's fully paid back.

They may add a fine on top because you didn't report it but i would say it's unlikely that anything else will happen.