Studying full time and claiming benefits

[scifisam]

When on my PGCE, I was refused tax credits and any benefits. Maybe I should have been more persistent regarding the tax credits.

It doesn't seem right to me that student loans are counted as income, but that's the system you have to work with.

Sounds like part-time study via the OU might be the best option for you, Madz.

 

[madzone]

When on my PGCE, I was refused tax credits and any benefits. Maybe I should have been more persistent regarding the tax credits.

It doesn't seem right to me that student loans are counted as income, but that's the system you have to work with.

Sounds like part-time study via the OU might be the best option for you, Madz.

I can't do it via OU

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

My advice would be to start with the university you want to study at. Ring and see if you can make an appt with an advisor in student services. They often have a department which deals with student finance and related stuff who could tell you from their end whats what.
Then you have a choice on what you do and no danger of the benefits people thinking you are on some course or other if you dont decide to go ahead

 

[madzone]

Yeah, thanks - I think I'll give them a ring. I'm not even sure I want to do it tbh. Well, I kind of do but it means being with people again and I don't enjoy that And I worry about the chemicals

 

[_angel_]

When on my PGCE, I was refused tax credits and any benefits. Maybe I should have been more persistent regarding the tax credits.

It doesn't seem right to me that student loans are counted as income, but that's the system you have to work with.

Sounds like part-time study via the OU might be the best option for you, Madz.

Especially since you have to pay them back. They may as well treat overdrafts and credit cards as income.


Shit!

eta: did you get a more generous grant for being on a PGCE??

eta again, sorry, did you have kids and get refused child tax credits?? Cos that sounds wrong.

 

[_angel_]

LMHF

Does that mean you can get child tax credits but not wftc if you're working and have a student partner?

Can you get child tax credits if you work 16 hours or over?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Pavlik]

Can you get child tax credits if you work 16 hours or over?

yes you do. i called them and asked the other day.
wtc gets cut off but the ctc remains.
all of which means i wont be going to do any full time further education in sept.

 

[bodach]

It doesn't seem right to me that student loans are counted as income, but that's the system you have to work with.

In my last year I just told them that I hadn't taken the loan, but I did.

 

[scifisam]

In my last year I just told them that I hadn't taken the loan, but I did.

They told me it wouldn't matter if I took the loan or not - they;d count it as income even if I did not get it!

@Angel - I got the £6,000 teacher training salary, plus just over £1,00 for having a child. The student loan was actually entirely eaten up by repayments on my undergraduate student loan (because they are bastards, basically). No tax credits, housing benefit or anything. I'm still working my way out of the debt that year caused me.

I really have no idea about the answers to your questions - tax credits continue to flummox me. Hopefully someone on here will know.

 

[invisibleplanet]

You must borrow from the student loan company (if you are entitled). Maintenance loan is counted as income, fees-loan is not.
You can still claim ChBen, CTC, and HB.
You will lose all entitlement to IS.
Any grants awarded will not be counted as 'income' when calculating CTC and HB.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

If only it was so simple. There are circumstances whereby students can remain entitled to IS, for example, if they are a lone parent. However, its a very tricky area to advise on as there are many variables to take into consideration. There is a good overview of funding for disabled students in higher education at Skill website

Most colleges have advisors these days to help people through the maze of regulations that apply though, my advice would be to speak to one of these about particular circumstances.

 

[invisibleplanet]

AFAIK, lone parents are not entitled to IS. I was told so by the Job Centre's Lone Parent Advisor, and then promptly had my IS withdrawn when I became a full-time student.

 

[bodach]

Any grants awarded will not be counted as 'income' when calculating HB.

Would this apply to a Masters as well.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

AFAIK, lone parents are not entitled to IS. I was told so by the Job Centre's Lone Parent Advisor, and then promptly had my IS withdrawn when I became a full-time student.

Well, unless she allowed you to make a claim, checked whether your income exceeded your applicable amount and made a decision explaining how that was worked out, you could well have been advised wrongly. Lone parents are among the few groups of full-time students who can claim means-tested state benefits such as Housing Benefit and Income Support. In practice very few students remain entitled to Income Support due to the impact of their student income.

You should always undertake a benefit calculation before you start your studies especially if you have a mortgage. It also demonstrates why relying on second hand information is not adviseable. I work advising people on benefit entitlement and I am correct in this, trust me

 

[scifisam]

You must borrow from the student loan company (if you are entitled). Maintenance loan is counted as income, fees-loan is not.
You can still claim ChBen, CTC, and HB.
You will lose all entitlement to IS.
Any grants awarded will not be counted as 'income' when calculating CTC and HB.

They were counted against me, and I didn't get HB or CTC (I'm a single parent).