Any advice please?

CandyApocalypse

I start at University on 26 September, when hopefully my student loan/grant should come through (was awarded about 7k for the year). My partner is currently on income support and DLA. He is gradually getting better, which means I can go back to Uni after caring for him for some time.

I knew that the income support would either dramatically reduce, or stop totally due to my student loan/grant, which was fine, as I have been budgeting for living expenses when I start being a student.

But I have just been told that because I start on the 26 September, they will stop the benefits we receive from the 1 September (currently being reassessed).

If this is true, how are we supposed to live until I get my money through? Our housing benefit doesn't cover our full rent (expensive area unfortunately), we have bills to pay and need food etc.

There are no jobs in the area at the moment, I have been applying ever since I was admitted to University, but I am guessing everyone else got the same idea. We have nothing to sell at all as we have been living off little money for some time now.

I know that if you go back to work, you get some kind of grant to help you through the first few weeks, and I know about housing benefit run on. But, if the above is true, I cannot see how we can survive a month with no money, and it will also mean we cannot pay the full rent, which isn't going to go down well is it?

Any advice appreciated? Is there anything I can apply for to get us through the month? The jobcentre have been little help to be honest, they can't even confirm if my benefits would stop on the 1 September.

[Deleted User]

have you opened a student bank account?that may give you an overdraft facility from about now,also you OH dla wont stop unless he has asked them to stop it as he is better?

CandyApocalypse

Thanks for replying.

I haven't been able to open a student bank account as I am currently waiting on being added to the electoral register. I thought I was already on, but apparently not, and I was declined by Halifax and another bank for an account. I won't be added until start of October now, so guessing that is going to be a problem with opening any accounts.

His DLA won't stop, once he has found a job, we will stop it, but the annoying thing is that the next payment isn't until after my student loan is meant to go in, which is after the period during which we will have no income at all.

This is why I am worried really. It's not like I can borrow £400 off anyone I know, so I have no idea what to do.

SuziQ

You can claim DLA when working, so only cancel it if he is truly not needing the care!!!

I believe (forgive me if I'm wrong) that benefits are paid in arrears, and it is therefor expected that you would be able to manage with what you received from the last payments until you are reassessed-not much help to you, having been on a very low income for a long time. Maybe try your University, who often have crisis funds? I am sure you will not be the first student to have found themselves in this position. I really don't know what else to advise.

CandyApocalypse

Thanks

I understand what you are saying, but even with being paid in arrears, if my last payment is the 5 September, how am I expected to manage until end of September without any money at all?

I have £440 rent, which housing benefit covers most of (though also waiting for a reassesment on that), but I need to find the extra money to cover what it doesn't from the income support. I could possibly put off bills until end of the month, just about.

But the other problem is going to be getting to University, I have to go there twice before my student loan (theoretically) comes through, which is £10 straight away, and there is no possibility of walking it, it's across the other side of town.

Forgive the stupid question actually, but if it is paid in arrears and they stop it on the 1 September, does that mean I am still entitled to a payment 2 weeks later? If so, I don't need to worry at all.

Thank you both for replying. I think I need to hold off panicking until I get the actual reassessment back and know what I am dealing with. I just could do without the worry, and I can't involve my partner as he can't handle stress. Helps worrying on here, as weird as it sounds. It's just our income has been so low for so long, have cut back every expense possible, including paying for gas so no hot water for months (we have a shower though) and the thought of having to find rent, plus bills, plus food out of one payment instead of two is a nightmare. It doesn't help that our rent is paid fortnightly, not monthly, if it was monthly we wouldn't have a problem.