OU and benefit implication

hannahO_2

I am thinking about enrolling at OU.
I am on ESA currently and it looks like I qualify for financial support for study expenses such as monthly internet connection fee.

How does it impact on my benefit?
Would it be classified as 'income' and I need to report that to DWP?

My understanding is that the course fee isn't counted as income as I don't receive in cash but may be 'grant' such as purchasing a PC might since they reimburse you when you send in your receipts.

Anyone know anything about it?

GotToChange

If you have received financial support for your fees, the financial support that you are now wondering about will take the form of a grant (£265) paid by SFE into your account. You will - if you have not received it previously - get an equivalent amount that is to use for a computer. You receive the money and then send them the receipt (has to be brand new I believe), not the other way round. You only get one computer grant throughout the course of your OU study - but you receive (until it changes?) the course study grant each (academic, i.e. Oct-Sept) year if you study 30 points or more (i.e. not per 30 point course if you decide to do two of them in a year). You don't get any of this for course of less than 30 points.
If you are on ESA, you may also qualify for other help due to Disability if it applies, but I'm not too clued up on that. There are also Access funds to apply for if you struggle to attend tutorials etc.
All good.

You do not need to declare this to DWP - they are actually very good about the OU (can take a week off from signing to attend Summer Schools).

Mupette

I just started my OU course yesterday,

you still need 30 credits or more to get disability help..

This information i got from their disability support team.

I get no money, but the course is paid for for me, as i provided the paperwork required.

my course is only 10 credits.

If you do have problems with your course because of being disabled and do not have enough credits, there are other ways of telling them,

In your profile and of course in your induction questionaire.

hannahO_2

I understand that I qualify for the course fee which is not paid into my bank account so that's OK.

What if I am in receipt of Social Security benefits?

If you are in receipt of Social Security benefits, you should be aware that payments from the Access to Learning Fund/Financial Contingency Fund may affect your benefit payments. It is your responsibility to check with the DWP to determine any effect a payment from these funds will have on your benefits. Open University staff cannot advise you in this regard.

As above which was in the PDF I downloaded from the OU site, I thought I'd better check with anyone who might have gone that path.

I'm interested in taking a 60 points course and possible go further to obtain a degree in the end.

Mupette

i would to be on the safe side.. write a letter (paper trail) and ask for the answer in writting (proof) from dwp where you stand with this..

Oldernotwiser

hannahO wrote: »

I understand that I qualify for the course fee which is not paid into my bank account so that's OK.


As above which was in the PDF I downloaded from the OU site, I thought I'd better check with anyone who might have gone that path.

I'm interested in taking a 60 points course and possible go further to obtain a degree in the end.

But you haven't been talking about applying to the ALF; the computer grant and course grant are totally separate from this.

hannahO_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But you haven't been talking about applying to the ALF; the computer grant and course grant are totally separate from this.

My apologies for my ignorance but what is ALF?
Regardless of where the money is coming from, is grant considered as an income? Or does it matter where the money comes from for it to be considered as 'income' or 'not income'?

Oldernotwiser

hannahO wrote: »

My apologies for my ignorance but what is ALF?
Regardless of where the money is coming from, is grant considered as an income? Or does it matter where the money comes from for it to be considered as 'income' or 'not income'?

Access to Learning Fund. you mentioned it in your quote.

fluffymovie

You might be entitled to a discount on Council Tax as well....

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/News/2011/070611StudentsInLineForCouncilTaxDiscount.htm

hannahO_2

I now have a definitive answer from a legal advice centre.

The following is a quote from "Welfare Benefits and Working Tax Credit Handbook" (p.624-626)

***********
Grant income that is ignored
-any allowance for tuition and examination fees;
-disabled students' allowance;
-any allowance to meet the cost of residential study away from your normal educational establishment during term time;
-any allowance for the cost of your normal home (away from college) but, for IS, JSA and ESA, only to the extent that your rent is not met by HB;
-for ISA/JSA/ESA only, any amount intended to maintain a dependent child (unless you still have amounts for children included in your IS/JSA and do not get child tax credit);
-any amount intended for the childcare costs of a dependent child;
-higher education grant;
-special support grant; etc..... (more but omitted as above answers my question)

In addition to the amounts ignored under the rules above, the following fixed sums are ignored.
-A fixed amount of £390 for books and equipment (2010/2011 academic year). If your grant includes a specific amount to cover the cost of books and equipment, that amount is ignored in addition to this fixed amount.
-A fixed amount of £303 for the cost of travel (2010/2011 academic year). If your grant includes a specific amount to cover the cost of travel expenses for attendance on your course, that amount is ignored in addition to this fixed amount.
***********

So basically, I will have to tell DWP that I am on a part-time course but as for the grant from OU which I might be entitled to does not have to be declared because it is within the amount which is specified as above.

Hope the information is helpful to anyone who might be in a same situation as me.

Oldernotwiser

fluffymovie wrote: »

You might be entitled to a discount on Council Tax as well....

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/News/2011/070611StudentsInLineForCouncilTaxDiscount.htm

I think that Lambeth may have got that wrong, unless the rules have changed to allow part time students to be exempt from paying council tax.

You cannot be a FT OU student.