Help for a friend please

cymrubaby

Hi there, I hope this is in the right place.

A friend of mine wants to start some college courses with hope of gaining access to HE next year.

She lives alone in a flat and has been told that a lot of her benefits will be cut as a result of going to college.

I don't want to give too many details about why she cannot work because it's personal to her, but she does receive some DLA (not the higher rate). Currently she receives help with rent/council tax etc.

She's feeling a bit nervous at the moment because she's worried about how she will afford to live and pay her rent with her money being cut in such a way.

Are there any forms of student loans or grants she could apply for? We live in Wales.

Thanks in advance.

MrsManda

Who has told her that a lot of her benefits will be cut?
Which benefits in particular?
Unless her medical condition has changed her DLA won't be affected, housing benefits are usually income assessed so it's doubtful she'll lose those, though she may lose ESA/JSA if she is claiming them but that depends on her personal circumstances.

She may get Adult Learning Grant and will get help with her course fees, again it all depends on her personal circumstances

stephyt23

As above it may depends on personal circumstances, she's probably best speaking to someone at the college or job centre. She could be entitled to ALG which gives you up to £30 a week again depending on circumstances. That's the only real finance available for college students, you don't get loans or grants as it's not a uni.

Oldernotwiser

You can't claim ALG as well as out of work benefits but there's no reason why she can't stay on theses benefits if study would be considered to be therapeutic for her.

cymrubaby

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will ask her who told her that her benefits would be cut and exactly which benefits. I don't think she claims JSA - I think it's Income Support.

I never considered that studying may be considered therapeutic so I will definitely ask her to look into that because I think it probably would be for her.

I have mentioned the ALG to her so I will recommend that she speaks to the advisers at the college.