income support for student on DLA

kitten47

Hi, my son is a university student living in halls during term time. Due to a disability he is on middle rate DLA for personal care and low rate for mobility. Someone suggested that he could claim income support while living in halls as he pays all his own accommodation and living costs. He also has direct payments for 4.5 hours a day to help him remain independent while at university. I am concerned that if he claims income support or the new benefit which replaced it this may impact on the benefits he is already claiming. Can anyone advise me on this as it all seems so complicated. Oh by the way he has taken out a student loan to help pay his accommodation costs.
Thanks
Kitten

Ames

He can get IS, I did. It ownt affect DLA as that's not means tested, but his student loan will be taken into account as income for IS. He can also get Housing Benefit, they've changed the rules so that disabled students can get it in halls.

Ames

Ooops, forgot to say it depends on how many contact hours he has at uni, I think it's got to be less than 16 a week.

alwaysonthego_2

Is he recieving any student loans/grants?

kitten47

Hi, Thanks for your replies. He is getting a small young student bursury of £450 for the academic year and has a student loan of £3500.

I am not sure what you mean about contact time at the uni, do you men with lecturers or support staff.

Thanks for your help so far all replies gratefully received
Kitten

alwaysonthego_2

His student loan/bursary will have an impact on the amount of IS he can claim as they are counted as income.

Contact hours are the amount of hours in lectures he attends.

kitten47

Hi again
My son says he has lectures that total 10 hours a week and tutorials and labs which total around 6 hours a week. Would he try to apply for IS and housing benefit once he is back at university in September or could he apply which he is still at home during the summer months?

sorry to ask so many questions but it all seems so complicated. Its as though they are trying to put genuine people off claiming what they are entitled to. Thanks again for your help.

student_advisor

Doesn't sound like your son is getting all the student income he is entitled to. As a student receiving DLA, he could be getup to £4950 loan and £2906 special support grant (dependent on income etc). I think he should see an advisor from the uni to make sure he's getting all the dosh he can from SFE. Once that has been sorted, he can apply for ESA and housing benefit. It will now be ESA, not IS that he will need to claim. The Welfare team at the uni/SU will also be able to help with the benefits applications.

alwaysonthego_2

student_advisor wrote: »

It will now be ESA, not IS that he will need to claim. The Welfare team at the uni/SU will also be able to help with the benefits applications.

Though if it is IBESA surely the grants/bursarys are counted as income and therefore he would not be entitled to it.

A good source of info from CPAG

http://www.cpag.org.uk/cro/wrb/wrb206/students.htm

please note it was published oct 2008

student_advisor

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Though if it is IBESA surely the grants/bursarys are counted as income and therefore he would not be entitled to it.

SSG is not counted as income and part of the loan is disregarded so depends on individual circumstances.

P.s CPAG Welfare Benefits book is my bible!

elfen

Also, has he applied for DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) This way, he'll get more if he's entitiled and they think he needs it, and it will help get equipment he may need but can't afford