Help With Student Loans - HERE!

Oldernotwiser

kittiechaos wrote: »

"Student funding affects means tested benefits but not DLA. "

I already knew that his DLA is safe but what I really wanted to know was how it works with the Housing Benefit/Income Support. From what I can glean (which isn't very much) from small mentions on a few websites, it suggests that my partner is entitled to some HB and also to claim IS just for himself (instead of for both of us like he is now). The thing is, when I do a benefit checker it doesn't seem to allow for me being a student, or the same with a student funding checker. I've looked for solid answers everywhere but I've found very little.

On what grounds would your partner be claiming IS?

MrsManda

kittiechaos wrote: »

The thing is, when I do a benefit checker it doesn't seem to allow for me being a student, or the same with a student funding checker.

As ONW asked, the basis on which your partner is claiming IS may make a difference to his entitlement while you are a student.
In order to get a rough idea of what he may be able to claim while you are a student he can use the turn2us benefits calculator but instead of putting you as a student he can say you are employed and put your student finance into the income box.
For benefits your maintanence grant, maintanence loan, adult dependents grant and bursaries from your university which are not for direct course costs all count as income.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_070816

kittiechaos

Thanks very much. My partner is claiming IS because he has a severe mental disorder, he's actually on a section at the moment although he is treated within the community. He's been sectioned 3 times in the past 3 years, and hasn't been able to work because of it. So he is claiming IS jointly for the two of us.

kittiechaos

Oh, I just found out about my loan etc, which makes me happy! But I was having a look on the directgov site and I noticed this:

Who may be able to claim income-related benefits as a student?

Full-time students

Although most full-time higher education students are not entitled to income-related benefits, certain groups may be able to make a claim.
The full rules are listed in the Income Support and Housing Benefit regulations. But as a general guide, you may be able to claim income-related benefits if you:

• are a lone parent
• have a partner who is also a student - and one or both of you are responsible for a child
• have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium, severe disability premium or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

If you have a partner who is not a student and they’re eligible for any income-related benefits, your partner can claim on behalf of you both.

So it does suggest that there might be some help available, cos I don't think I can support two people on just 10k a year! Especially as I have to travel in to uni, and it'll cost about £40-50 a week.

ladymac

Hi there, need some advice please. I live in Scotland and found out yesterday that i have been accepted for a Business HNC (with Enterprise) 1 year ft course and it starts on 5th September! Have no idea about funding as haven't received any paper work. Would you have a rough idea what I should be looking at please. My husband and I are separated but not divorced, yet! I am 40 and have 2 daughters at home and I receive DLA and tax credits and get maintenance of sorts. just wondered what my next steps would be and you seem very knowledgeable. Many thanks.

Lokolo

ladymac wrote: »

Hi there, need some advice please. I live in Scotland and found out yesterday that i have been accepted for a Business HNC (with Enterprise) 1 year ft course and it starts on 5th September! Have no idea about funding as haven't received any paper work. Would you have a rough idea what I should be looking at please. My husband and I are separated but not divorced, yet! I am 40 and have 2 daughters at home and I receive DLA and tax credits and get maintenance of sorts. just wondered what my next steps would be and you seem very knowledgeable. Many thanks.

http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/index.htm

ladymac

wow very quick! will have a long look through, thank you so much!

Oldernotwiser

kittiechaos wrote: »

Oh, I just found out about my loan etc, which makes me happy! But I was having a look on the directgov site and I noticed this:

Who may be able to claim income-related benefits as a student?

Full-time students

Although most full-time higher education students are not entitled to income-related benefits, certain groups may be able to make a claim.
The full rules are listed in the Income Support and Housing Benefit regulations. But as a general guide, you may be able to claim income-related benefits if you:

• are a lone parent
• have a partner who is also a student - and one or both of you are responsible for a child
• have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium, severe disability premium or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

If you have a partner who is not a student and they’re eligible for any income-related benefits, your partner can claim on behalf of you both.

So it does suggest that there might be some help available, cos I don't think I can support two people on just 10k a year! Especially as I have to travel in to uni, and it'll cost about £40-50 a week.

But your student funding will affect the means tested benefits and no allowance is made for expenditure.

Is it possible to do your course part time by distance learning?

Top_Banana_2

Top_Banana wrote: »

Hello.

I've quoted my original post to save me having to type it out again - it gives you the background of my problem.

Update: I have sent in the letter from the uni to confirm that I had never studied with them before and the UCAS deferral letter - both of which were requested by SFE.

I have not heard anything from SFE yet. I have called them a number of times over the past two weeks, but they simply tell me to be patient as it is being 'manually assessed'. I've already had it assessed and they made the mistake - yet I now suspect I'm back at the bottom of the list. Surely, if you'e been assessed already any changes can be dealt with more quickly?

I originally applied in April for the funding!

My worry is that I won't have the funding sorted out by the time the course starts on 12th Sept. Will I still be able to start the course if I haven't got it sorted by then?

I am not in any way to blame, yet I fear I could miss out on starting

Any tips?

Thank you!

Hi again. My problem is still not sorted

SFE asked me to send in a letter from my uni confirming that I had not previously enrolled/registered with them. I did this, but now they are saying that they still believe I did enrol/register! What more can I do?

jencat29

Hi I am Now aware that travel expences are being phased out.
Did this apply to last term 20010/2011? as I filled in a form for travel expences but was not provide with any information that said that I was not entitled and seemed to get less funding last year than the year before!
i am grateful for your reply
Jencat