What do I need to tell the benefits people about?

OUStudent

OK I am about to start 120 points of study with the OU in February I have had my finance approved, I live in wales so have qualified for the following:

Course Fee Grant: £1100
Course Grant: £1075
Adults Dependants Grant: £1985.25
Parents Learning Allowance: £1131.00

The fee grant has already been applied to my OU account, the course grant I expect to receive via BACS around the end of February. The ADG and the PLA will be paid in 3 equal installments the first being paid via BACS towards the end of February then another in month 4 and another in month 8.

As far as I know the course fee grant and the course grant make no difference to benefits I am not sure about the ADG & PLA if so is it going to be one of those pointless exercises where they give me money in one hand then take it off me again in the other?

When do I need to let the benefits agency know about this when I have received the money I presume?

Any help appreciated

Thanks in advance

dmg24

The first thing you need to do is advise IB that you are studying 120 credits per year - this *may* lead to a review of your IB claim.

OUStudent

dmg24 wrote: »

The first thing you need to do is advise IB that you are studying 120 credits per year - this *may* lead to a review of your IB claim.

OK thanks for that did ring them before I applied and they said as long as it was all home based it was not a problem the only comfort I can get at the moment until I have my next op is sat in a chair so it all worked out quite well from the point of view whilst I am sat in a char surfing the net I may as well be laerning something and getting ready to re-enter the employment arena this time with something worth having behind me

I had a review a couple of months ago and the letter that came said my next one would be early in March next year I presume this is when my area is having the switch to ESA, my ilness is quite straight forward really I am about 50% if the way to recovery now 2 more ops and loss of around another 6 stone and the world will be my oyster Well thats the plan at least.........................................

I suppose I might do better just ringing them up and telling them everything that way they can decide for themselves what counts and what does not it would have been nice to have half an idea though beforehand, from what I have read on the internet it seems the only 1 they will be concerned with is the Adults Dependants Grant just really trying to clarify more than anything, I like to be organised well as much as possible and the thought of having to wait for a letter from them to tell me what is going to happen seems like a nightmare I like to have at least half an idea to begin with

Your point is duly noted though and I will ring them now I am fully registered so they are kept up to date.

Thanks

OUStudent

Dohhhh brain has gone to much today sorry everyone I am in fact doing 3 30 point courses so a total of 90 NOT 120 points.

Dont know where I got that from in the first place too many things running around my brain at the moment