Becoming a student - effect on benefits?

MandyG_3

Hi all

I really want to get a degree with the open university, but I need to know if it will affect any of the benefits we have

we get

child tax credits
working tax credits (cause I am self employed 16 hours a week)
hubby get incapacity benefit for his narcolepsy and cataplexy
he also gets DLA
I get Carers for him
child benefit
DLA for our daughter

we have 4 kids

we get council tax benefit and we are hoping to sell our house and rent and I think we would get LHA

what effect would becoming a part time student have on the above?

I think I read you cant get carers if you are a full time student, but the open university course is not full time

thanks for any help and advice

Aarons_mummy

Open university has no effect on benefits. You can't get any student grants/loans etc etc so you don't have any income from it. The only thing you can get if you live in England (and Ireland I believe) is the course grant of £265 per academic year and a PC grant of £100 odds but you have to provide a receipt showing you bought a new laptop/PC.

MandyG_3

Thanks Aaron's mummy

I have been told I would get my course fees covered beccause I get carers allowance. If I dont, I cant do the course. Will look into it more.

I dont want to waste away here - I really want to better myself (getting old and wishing I had finished University lol)

Aarons_mummy

The open university has a section that can tell you if you would be eligable for course fee's to be paid, there are certain benefits that will allow your course fee's to be paid, just checked the form I have here and carers allowance is included. If you wanted to be sure you can give the OU a call and they will answer any queries you might have.

I totally recommend the OU, I've just finished my first course and started my second, it's well worth trying it

hannahO_2

Aarons_mummy wrote: »

Open university has no effect on benefits. You can't get any student grants/loans etc etc so you don't have any income from it. The only thing you can get if you live in England (and Ireland I believe) is the course grant of £265 per academic year and a PC grant of £100 odds but you have to provide a receipt showing you bought a new laptop/PC.

So am I obliged to declare the amount as an income to DWP if I buy a new laptop and claim (with the receipt) from OU? I think one can request a monthly internet connection upto (£30pm) while you are studying too.

karenx

Why are you selling to rent a house?
And getting LHA depends on how much you make from the sale of the house.

abi-em-mum83

karenx wrote: »

Why are you selling to rent a house?
And getting LHA depends on how much you make from the sale of the house.

Not really pertinent to op's question, where she asked how studying would affect benefits, nothing to do with selling their house, getting LHA or renting. Lets stay on topic before this turns into another benefits bashing thread!

hannahO_2

Thank you abi-em-mum83.

I am on ESA right now but I am thinking forward. I've read on other thread that people who've done OU degree often becomes a teacher so I thought it might be a good idea for me.

bobajob_1966

abi-em-mum83 wrote: »

Not really pertinent to op's question, where she asked how studying would affect benefits, nothing to do with selling their house, getting LHA or renting. Lets stay on topic before this turns into another benefits bashing thread!

Perhaps karenx was asking so as to advise the OP of ways they could retain the property, if the reason for selling was financial? It was very rude of you to jump on her without giving a chance to explain.

hannahO_2

Well my apologies,
I thought, rather than creating a new thread, I'd I post my question here since in other section, posts get moved and added to similar a thread.

But it looks as though that confused some people.

No problem.
I will create a new thread for my question.

Thank you ALL.

SuziQ

Mandy I just want to give you a little encouragement. I did K101, Intro to health and social care last year,whilst receiving IS and CA. I loved it and now have a certificate in health and social care. Although I have previously worked in this area for all my adult life, I still found the course very interesting and it stretched me academically. I am now applying to get on a back to practice health visiting course on the back of last year's studies! The OU is brilliant-very supportive and the sense of achievement you get is priceless. We had a really wonderful facebook group on top of the group on the OU site. I am currently doing a 15 credit course, about Autism, as I have a child with Aspergers and am finding it very informative. Good luck!