ESA and students

tigdim

I'm currently claiming ESA with my partner, he doesnt currently know if hes going back to Uni this year, he will know soon, hopefully!

I have been told if hes at Uni and getting a student loan I wont be able to claim ESA anymore, or infact any other benefit.

Does anyone know if this is true?
I can bearly afford to live as it is, which is stressful enough but if they are going to take that off me too then I dont know what I'll do.

NASA_2

Who is the main claimant? Are there any kids involved? Do either/both of you receive DLA?

How much is the student loan?

tigdim

I would be the main claimant, there are no kids involed and neither of us claim DLA

Im not sure how much the student loan is :-\ Its not enough to feed us and pay our bills every month tho :-\

MrsManda

tigdim wrote: »

Im not sure how much the student loan is :-\ Its not enough to feed us and pay our bills every month tho :-\

How do you know if you don't know how much the student loans will be?
I presume you're getting income related ESA?
Do you and your partner get any other income?

When your partner goes to university he will receive the full maintanence loan of ~£4950, plus a maintanence grant of upto £2906, he's likely to also receive a adult dependents grant for you of upto £2642 plus a bursary of upto £3000 from his university.

(these are figures for the 2011/12 academic year)
You can find a student finance calculator here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Typesoffinance/index.htm

You may also be able to claim benefits on behalf of you both in terms of housing benefit and council tax benefit (he won't pay CT anyway so you get a 25% discount providing no other adults live in the house).
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876