Student loan/grants etc and their effect on benefits

smithyjules

My husband starts uni in a few weeks, he applied through clearing after being made redundant in July. We are a married couple with 2 children (one only 11 weeks) so are currently getting almost full housing and council tax benefit due to our low income.

Am i right in saying that him taking out the loan will effect our entitlements?he will be travelling some 40 miles a day so much will go on fuel for uni but I'm guessing this won't be taken into consideration.

Is anyone else in a similar situation?

Oldernotwiser

Your husband will be able to take out several extra grants as well as his loan but some of them will affect means tested benefits. You don't get any extra funding for travel.

Indie_Kid

They do ignore some money for books and £10 a week for travel.

rapunzelz86

Found a good bit of information here ; http://www.nus.org.uk/Student-Life/Money-And-Funding/Students-and-social-security-benefits/

Such a shame that DirectGov, the supposed official government website, dont feel the need to print such information that everyone is asking for!
But this site looks ok.

A_Doonhamer

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't get any extra funding for travel.

Not knowing the op location this may not be accurate. Scotland differs from England in this. We are able to claim travel expenses.

rapunzelz86

A_Doonhamer wrote: »

Not knowing the op location this may not be accurate. Scotland differs from England in this. We are able to claim travel expenses.

It also may vary by county/city. My local council offer travel grants for both HE and FE, ever sice my local college network abolished the "college buses".

Its always worth following all the different links and finding a gem of information that the previous organisation may not have told you or even known about.

wobblymummy

Hi

It will be calculated on last years income I think if your income was under 25k you are eligible for the full grants and loans.

We are married with two small children, one in school one in pre school. Husbands income was under 25k.

The Adult Dependant Grant has to be declared to tax credits apparently but nothing else affects tax credits, not sure about other benefits as we dont get any means tested ones.

You may find you will be better off than you think but give student finance a call on the landline number of 0141 243 3600 I have managed to get through on this number several times and all my student finance is sorted now for when I enrol in September the money will be released

Oldernotwiser

sadeelisha wrote: »

It also may vary by county/city. My local council offer travel grants for both HE and FE, ever sice my local college network abolished the "college buses".

Its always worth following all the different links and finding a gem of information that the previous organisation may not have told you or even known about.

Travel grants to go to universities?

rapunzelz86

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Travel grants to go to universities?

Yes, a "limited amount of support available to those who need it most", not majorly advertised but there if asked for, I was actually only enquiring for my partner who will be starting FE when i discovered HE students could qualify too, though i imagine the criteria would be much stricter and more means tested with every bit of student support taken into account, So, good for those who wont get much support for whatever reason.
But no matter what support you do or dont get, a very good quote taken from a recent poster on the student board - "struggle now for a better future or do nothing and struggle forever"

Indie_Kid

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Travel grants to go to universities?

I've never heard of them either. I know there are discounts on TfL for students and my college gave out bus passes - but never grants for travel.

rapunzelz86

sh1305 wrote: »

I've never heard of them either. I know there are discounts on TfL for students and my college gave out bus passes - but never grants for travel.

Hi, what is TfL?

Also, (and even i think this is a little unfair lol) us welsh seem to be getting a bit of favouritism on the student finance side of things.
I know for OU course grants we get a much larger amount then english students, £1075, and also the maintenance grant for HE is £5000, again i believe a lot higher than the amount for students in england. I guess we are seen as the third world of the UK