Uni hardship fund/benefits

Zziggi

I'm receiving means tested benefits and I am studying a few hours a week at university. I've received an award from the university's Access to Learning Fund. Which is,to those who don't know, a kind of hardship fund. I was given an award for specific costs relating to my studies (petrol/childcare) to enable me to carry on studying.

Am i required to tell the DWP of this award? Or do i only have to tell them if the award is over a certain amount?(if so what is the amount over which i am required to tell them)

Will this payment affect means tested benefits? (surely not otherwise there is no point in getting it?)

Thanks

lazy_girl

Ask the university? Or the student advice/welfare people at the Union.

tbh i would be surprised if this affected your benefits.

Zziggi

lazy_girl wrote:

Ask the university? Or the student advice/welfare people at the Union.

tbh i would be surprised if this affected your benefits.

Thanks. The welfare advisor at tehunion said "don't know".

TBH i WOULDN'T be surprised if it did affect my benefits - you know what they are like...

I was hoping someone on here would be able to help me out and let me know the situation.

Fran

I don't think the payments will affect your income based benefits as they are for different purposes (travel), however a general enquiry to the Jobcentre should answer that. It would presumably affect Working Tax Credit if you were claiming that at any time and get a childcare element.

I'm moving the thread to the Student Board as they might know definitely.

si1503

The access to learning fund is given out with the knowledge of all other income/benefits you are receiving, as it asks for a statment of your income and expenditure and proof of current cash flow from bank statements. Therefore I don't see how it will effect you benefits. The A2L fund is seperate and is relating to your course costs, which I assume your other benefits do not offer support toward.

Crispy_Ambulance

ALF payments should not affect your benefits. they should be disregarded completely if paid for course costs and treated as capital if paid for living costs (usually in a lump sum). They will only affect your benefit if they take you over the lower capital limit for the benefit.