family credit & student loans

franbelfast

anyone else experienced this? from 1998-2002 i was in receipt of student finance. during this period i was also entitled to family credit. the amount paid to me as a student loan was calculated as income by family credit. i am now paying back the student loan, but already lost this amount from my benefit entitlement at that time. i have lobbied local MLA's but apparently there is no way around this? interested to hear your comments!!

Oldernotwiser

Student loans always have been, and still are, counted as income for benefits.

Save your energy.

BigAunty

My understanding is that, with some (perhaps all?) means tested benefits), the claimant is treated as if they have taken a student loan, even if they have not or will not, apply for one. This makes some claimants angry as they don't want to get into 'debt' and 'borrow' money to pay their basic bills.

I expect the principle is that the claimant has a low interest loan available to them for their living expenses, one that doesn't require repayment until they earn a particular rate of salary, and the onus is on them to take advantage of it.