A little confused LCWRA

Sean4w
Sean4w Community Member Posts: 21 Connected
edited August 2023 in Education and skills
Hi, im a little confused on becoming a student with the OU, i have been on LCWRA since march 2020, so is it possible for me to apply and stay on UC with LCWRA? 

This screen snap had me a little confused, i understand that usually you cannot do both.

I dont receive pip im currently writing a MR.



Sorry certain wording confuses me at times.

Comments

  • bg844
    bg844 Community Member Posts: 3,929 Championing
    Yes you can, Open University will not affect unless you are entitled to receive any sort of maintenance loan (even if you choose to take it or not).
  • Sean4w
    Sean4w Community Member Posts: 21 Connected
    bg844 said:
    Yes you can, Open University will not affect unless you are entitled to receive any sort of maintenance loan (even if you choose to take it or not).
    Because the rule usually is you cannot be a full time student on UC, so the above confused me.

    Yes i know about the Grant and it will probably lower my UC 90%.

    Thanks for responding.
  • bg844
    bg844 Community Member Posts: 3,929 Championing
    Sean4w said:
    Because the rule usually is you cannot be a full time student on UC, so the above confused me.

    Yes i know about the Grant and it will probably lower my UC 90%.

    Thanks for responding.
    Open University has a weird rule as it’s classed as distance-learning which in terms of benefits is part-time regardless, for clarity are you in receipt of PIP?

    Grants do not affect but maintenance loans do, divided by the number of months your course covers minus a £110 a month disregard. Generally speaking, students who study via the OU don’t qualify for this unless you have a disability and medical evidence to send to Student Finance.

    Students and any sort of income-related benefits don’t mix well so you’ll always get mixed advice on it but it is definitely do-able. Good luck with your course.
  • Sean4w
    Sean4w Community Member Posts: 21 Connected
    edited August 2023
    bg844 said:
    Sean4w said:
    Because the rule usually is you cannot be a full time student on UC, so the above confused me.

    Yes i know about the Grant and it will probably lower my UC 90%.

    Thanks for responding.
    Open University has a weird rule as it’s classed as distance-learning which in terms of benefits is part-time regardless, for clarity are you in receipt of PIP?

    Grants do not affect but maintenance loans do, divided by the number of months your course covers minus a £110 a month disregard. Generally speaking, students who study via the OU don’t qualify for this unless you have a disability and medical evidence to send to Student Finance.

    Students and any sort of income-related benefits don’t mix well so you’ll always get mixed advice on it but it is definitely do-able. Good luck with your course.
    That is a load off my mind thank you so much, for explaining OU is always Part Time.

    I am not in receipt of pip, i had a bad assessment, so i have a MR to write up.

    Edit: For anyone else in a similar boat, even if you study full time hours, with the OU, we can only apply for Part-Time grants and loans.

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