Benefits and a Part time course

Neenabeen

I was wondering if anyone here was claiming benefits while studying? and if so what benefits they were claiming? In the current job market it seems to make sense to gain new skills to improve your chances of finding work but does this effect the benefits you can claim?

Any input would be fantastic - I would particularly like to hear peoples own experiences.

Cheers

dmg24

It would be more helpful if you told us your plans, and then we can give input as to whether they would be allowed.

kingfisherblue

I claim Income Support and completed my degree part time whilst being on benefits. I am a single parent with a disabled child, and my benefits were not affected. I received full tuition costs (paid directly to the university) and an annual grant of £250 to help towards the costs of books, travel and childcare. My degree took five years instead of three, but I could not have managed a full time course as my son's needs are substantial. I also had support from family and friends.

Neenabeen

I am studying an MA and looking for part-time work. I lost my hearing a few years ago and have found it difficult to find work since, I am studying an MA in London and living at my parents house and travelling 140 mile from my parents each week to attend the course in London and have no income coming in. I have a career development loan which covers my fees. I eventually will need to move down to London to do my course and would like to get a part-time job and have thought about claiming housing benefit in order to survive as I have been told that it is income assessed (any experiences of doing this would be great). However in the mean time I am living with my parents and wanted to know if it possible to claim JSA and study part time while I look for a part-time job near my university. Any advice about any part of this would be great.

ellie101

hello Neenabeen.. is your MA f/t or p/t? Just asking as I'd be interested in knowing the answer to this related to master related study, but not sure whether to do part or full time.

I've claimed while studying at OU previously ( p/t study); I was on carer's allowance and income support top-up. Because I was on income support I got my fees paid for those modules (about 8mths or so of study). I did claim contribution based JSA and do p/t degree level study through OU, that was only for a short time. The OU had to write a letter for me outlining what I was studying and estimated hours. I didn't get any fees paid for that.

Hope you can get some assistance, good luck.

Neenabeen

Hi ellie101...to answer your question my course is p/t over 2 years.