Old style ESA, HB and PIP

Bubbly1

I want to do a college course, Level 4 counselling part time, what funding can I apply for without it affecting my benefits, if any please? 

poppy123456

Any maintenance loan available to you will affect any means tested benefits you’re claiming regardless of whether you take that loan or not.
Loans to pay for the course will not affect your benefits. 

Any disabled student allowance will not affect your benefits. 

You can also contact Disabled student helpline who will be able to give you some advice. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/helplines/disabled-students-helpline

Bubbly1

Thank you very much Poppy, so helpful as always 

Bubbly1

Hi Poppy would this also be the case if I applied for a degree course classified as Full Time 12 hours per week for course fees only? 

poppy123456

Yes same rules apply but please remember about the advice i gave regarding maintenance loans. If there's a loan available to you then you must take that loan.

Bubbly1

Are you saying then that even if I do not want the maintenance loan I am obliged to take it, i.e. I cannot just take tuition fees only? Does this also apply for an advanced learner loan? Sorry to keep asking but I cannot do anything that would affect my benefits as I have no savings, thank you Poppy 

calcotti

To be clear, you are not obliged to take the loan. However any calculation of means tested benefits will assume that you are receiving any loan that you are eligible for. Therefore if you don’t take the loan you are going to have to find the money some other way if you need it.

Remember that if you take a student loan you will only start paying it back if you earn enough to cross the repayment threshold.

Bubbly1

I am even more confused now, the college where the course is, is only 10 mins drive from home so I would only need help with the tuition fees, I will contact the disabled students helpline tomorrow as Poppy suggested I think for clarification 

poppy123456

Bubbly1 said:

I am even more confused now, the college where the course is, is only 10 mins drive from home so I would only need help with the tuition fees, I will contact the disabled students helpline tomorrow as Poppy suggested I think for clarification 

It doesn’t matter how far away the college is, if there’s a maintenance loan available to you, it will affect the amount of means tested benefits you’re entitled to, even if you don’t take that loan. 

One thing I didn’t mention, if you so become a full time student you need to report the changes to ESA and your local authority.

Bubbly1

Thank you 

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @Bubbly1. It is the very least you deserve.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you. We are all here for you and listening to you