LCWRA & Part Time study with the OU

potnoodle

Hi,

I've been in the LCWRA group for about 4 years now. I would like to do some part-time study and the Open University has a course that I like the sound of. I do not know if I would be able to manage the 16-18 hours per week that they say it would take.

I am physically disabled and have mental health difficulties. I do not want to jeopardise my UC claim, or risk losing my ESA component - especially with the cost of living crisis going on all around us. Especially as I do not know for sure if I have what it takes to complete a degree in 6+ years.

But I also have a nagging feeling that I am wasting away without any kind of purpose. 

I understand that being a student and claiming UC is complicated. But I would be so grateful if anyone had any advice. I feel that I cannot ask anyone from DWP because I fear I will be struck off immediately and that would create a deep financial crisis for myself and my family.

I claim PIP, the standard element. And I have an 8 year old daughter.

The course is completely online and none of the exams are in person, plus they say you can take up to 16 years to complete, it if need be. I have already asked if that meant I could do 8 or so hours a week, but they said no, it's between 16-18. Also, on Reddit, people have been saying they studied for 4 hours a week the first year but that the second year was much more intensive and they needed to study for longer.

I'm so confused, which is disheartening. I'd really appreciate some advice. 

poppy123456

Being a part time student for OU will not affect your UC. The only thing that would affect your UC is if there's a maintenance loan available to you, regardless of whether you take that lone or not it will still affect your UC.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @potnoodle I can see that poppy123456 has already given you some advice on this. You're right that claiming UC while studying can be complicated, but I hope that poppy123456 has been able to clear that up for you a bit. Please do let us know whether there's anything you're still unsure about.

Have you looked into DSA (OU website) at all? 

In terms of your worries about the time commitment, this is always something you could speak to them about. They should be able to give you some information on how to manage this workload.

You could also try doing a short online course beforehand, to see if you like to learn that way, and are able to manage the studying. FutureLearn have plenty on their website.

potnoodle

Hi @poppy123456 and @Tori_Scope. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and for replying. That seems like positive news, but I am still quite worried about taking the leap, and nervous that I might not be able to complete, or even begin a degree.

If possible, could you clarify why studying with the OU wouldn't affect my UC claim? 

I haven't looked at the DSA website yet. I will take a look next though.

I have begun a free course on the OpenLearn website, which offers tasters of their degree courses for free (without any kind of time constraint or qualification gained at the end). I think the courses are retired lessons from courses. I've enjoyed what I've done so far, but of course it has just been one day.

I'm not going to give up on this though. I would really like to give it my best shot, so I will at least try with making enquiries to the DSA, continue the OpenLearn course etc.

poppy123456

potnoodle said:

If possible, could you clarify why studying with the OU wouldn't affect my UC claim? 

Because you've been found to have LCWRA and you have no work related activities to attend to so being a part time student doesn't affect your UC. See link. https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Part-time-students-and-benefits/Can-part-time-students-claim-Universal-Credit

potnoodle

Thank you so much @poppy123456, I really appreciate your reply

L_Volunteer

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

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

potnoodle

Thank you @L_Volunteer.

To be honest I'm feeling upset about the whole thing  I mentioned it to my parents who basically warned me off taking the course - they're saying it's not a good idea to risk losing my benefits over and I should be happy with my life as it is. I feel like they're implying I'm ungrateful, which is actually far from true. I have a lot of struggles but I am grateful for my daughter and my husband.

My parents made it sound like I'm risking everything just by trying to get a qualification part time. I left mainstream school when I was 14 (although managed to get some GCSE's) and quit my A levels after the first year because of my health and stresses in the family. I'm 34 now and  I'm just so gutted. I've been told that I'm bright and eloquent and shouldn't give up on myself which is inspiring. But after talking to my parents - I'm so upset... anyway, sorry for venting.

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, and the very warm welcome I've received here.

poppy123456

You should do what you want to do and not what others would prefer you to do. If someone said that to me then i'd be even more determined to do it lol.

Being a part time OU student from home will not affect any of your benefits. Go for it and good luck!

potnoodle

I think there is a lot of truth to what you have said @poppy123456. 

I think they're not even reassessing people at the moment anyway, so maybe I could start the course and if it doesn't work out - then I'll still be okay. 

louise_tivenan

thats who im studying with lol ou im doing BSc {honour} Psychology what u studying hun 

potnoodle

Awesome, how are you finding the workload? 

I've pretty much accepted that the workload will be too much for me now. I tried to do a relevant Open Learn short course and I struggled on week 2. I was hoping to do Creative Writing and English Literature. 

I wish you all the best with your Psychology degree!

L_Volunteer

It sounds really difficult that the workload will be too much for you @potnoodle. Is there anything, in particular, that might help it to be more manageable for you? 

For example, some full-time courses can also be taken as part-time to reduce some of the load. Similarly, is there anything in your wider life that other people could do to reduce the demand? 

We are all here for you and listening to you if you would like to share more with us. Take care for now and we will look forward to, hopefully, hearing from you again soon 

potnoodle

Thank you, @L_Volunteer for your message. 

The course I was interested in would have been part time at 16-18 hours a week. I emailed the Open University to ask if I could do less than 16 hours per week. The course would take 6 years to complete at their pace, but you are actually allowed 16 years to complete the course. They replied but were quite firm on the students putting in at least 16 hours each week, which is down to their marking system and how the course is taught by the tutors. You can apparently get extensions for the TMAs (Tutor marked assessments) etc. However...

I don't think I will be able to focus on the course for 16 hours each week. I would like to, but I rarely can focus on anything for that length of time, with all the distractions, my physical pain and my mental instability factored in. I might be able to complete a few weeks at that pace, maybe even a few months, but then find myself come crashing down afterwards. 

I'm feeling quite numb about the whole thing now, but at least I'm not terribly upset, I suppose. Thank you for your kindness and support.

L_Volunteer

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

How frustrating that even though it is a possibility they were quite firm in opposing the idea. I can hear that it would be difficult for you to focus on the course for 16 hours each week. 

Have you been able to tell them that you enquired about this due to your difficulties that make it harder to focus on the course for 16 hours each week?

It sounds like you could really benefit from reasonable adjustments. I can hear how you are feeling quite numb about the whole thing now, but at least not terribly upset. 

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

craftee_chloe

@potnoodle I have been searching online about this very topic for a few days now and I am glad I found this thread. 

I wanted to start an OU course this autumn. I am chronically unwell with young children. My husband cares for me. Whilst I am not fit for work or volunteering, I wanted to get my brain working again after being out of work for 8 years and to feel like I am doing something positive, rather than existing. I get PIP and have been in the support group 6 years on new style ESA. We also get UC with LCWRA. My ESA amount is deducted £ for £ from my UC. 

I would need to apply for student finance to pay for the modules of study. Because of my situation I would get attract maintenance loan which is deducted from UC £ for £ and is repayable, lumped onto my student loan. 

My worry is UC will know I am studying as I will need to send in paperwork from student finance and they will know I've got income from the maintenance loan. I worry they will use studying against me and call me in for reassessment. 

It's taken years to get my benefits sorted out, and the assessments really cause me distress. I know they could call me in at any time, but I'd rather it just be for my review. My conditions are progressive and I still meet the LCWRA conditions. 
It seems to me that everything is always so complicated when it comes to the DWP. It's all too focused on what people can't do, when it should be focusing on what people can do. Just because I wish to study doesn't mean I am fit for work. I am not ready for the scrap heap either! 
If anyone has any experience of any of this I would appreciate a comment. Thank you