Bursaries for college feed

Bubbly1

I currently receive PIP, Housing Benefit and ESA (Support Group) so would I be able to claim for a bursary or loan to do a Counselling course, maybe to degree level

poppy123456

You can be a full time student and continue with ESA. If there's a maintenance loan available to you it will affect your means tested benefits, even if you decide not to take the loan.

Rules for housing benefit for full time students maybe different. You'll need to speak to your local Authority about this.

Bubbly1

Thank you!! 

L_Volunteer

Hello @Bubbly1. I'm not sure I have greeted you before so welcome to Scope's forum. It is great to see you have joined us.

In terms of bursary/loan to do a Counselling course, maybe to degree level, it might be worth looking into Student Finance England (or similar depending on where you are based).

The university might also have university-specific bursaries/loans available, so might be worth checking in with the university you are hoping to apply to.

For example, I know at my university, there are some bursaries/loans for low-income students as well as students on particular courses.

I hope this helps but please don't hesitate to let us know if you would like some further support with this or have any additional questions 

Bubbly1

That’s so helpful, thank you!! I am new to this group so hello to you too!! It’s so good to know their is advice, help and support our there. I have rheumatoid arthritis and it is good to not feel isolated!! Thanks again 

poppy123456

Just to add further. If your housing benefit and/ESA ends because of a maintenance loan then you will not be able reclaim them and you'll need to claim Universal Credit in the future.

Tori_Scope

A warm welcome from me too @bubbly1 Is your rheumatoid arthritis being well managed at the moment? You might like to pop over to our chronic pain and pain management category to chat with other members who might be going through something similar. 

Doing a counselling course sounds really interesting! What made you think about gaining that kind of qualification? 

Bubbly1

Thank you!! My RA is well managed most of the time but my hands are often very bad. I am a qualified reflexologist but that is now impossible so I decided to do the counselling course to keep my mind active and it’s so interesting