IS, CS and studying through the Open University

nicki_2

I'm claiming income support as a lone parent and I'm studying through the Open university. I've been told that I have to declare the course grants I receive as its a form of income, which is fair enough. Now my current course will run for 24 weeks and the grant I get is £250 I think, I was told that this grant amount would be divided by the amount of weeks the course is over to give me a weekly income. This works out (if I've got my maths right) £10.42p a week.

Now I also get CS at £48 a week from my ex, which has already been taken into account with my IS payments, will the additional £10.42 from my student grant also be taken off my IS or would that be counted separately and therefore I wouldn't loose any money.

I'm only asking as I'm trying to sort out a budget! :rolleyes:

simpywimpy

Sometimes the grant from the OU is to cover the cost of attending the tutorials and books etc so definately try and get those items taken into acount before you judge it as an income

Blackpool_Saver

The rules with income support are you must claim everything you are entitled to whether you want to or not as far as student finance or they will deduct it from your IS anyway, I know this because I have recently been through it.

You are allowed £20 per week of your child support the rest is deducted penny for penny from IS.

von

There is a disregard of £675.00 in the current academic year for books and travelling, this will mean that your grant will not be taken into account in your Income Support assessment, but you should still inform them about it.