benefits and student

Mandy-2k8

I am about to start my graphic design course and applyed for student loans, i was not aware this affected my benefit. I am a single parent and was on income support, until they suppended it without telling me till i contacted them. They said to apply for tax credits but i thought that was only for working people not mature students who didnot work. Can you help me please as i dont know where to turn and the social security is no help what so ever.

karenx

Yes some loans are considered income for benefit purposes. When I was going to college I was told to either stay on income support or take the loans, you dont get both.
You will still get your child tax credits, and also working tax credits if you work 16hours plus per week. Is your childs father not paying maintenance?

Oldernotwiser

karenx wrote: »

Yes some loans are considered income for benefit purposes. When I was going to college I was told to either stay on income support or take the loans, you dont get both.
You will still get your child tax credits, and also working tax credits if you work 16hours plus per week. Is your childs father not paying maintenance?

This isn't true.If you're on a degree level course where loans are available you will be assessed as receiving them, even if you don't take them out.

OP, as a lone parent you should find yourself slightly better off at university then on IS as you will be able to have your maintenance loan, special support grant, university bursary, parents learning allowance and not all of these are used to assess means tested benefits.

You surely didn't expect to receive all the funding for being a lone parent and all the funding for being a student as well?