Education and Income Support

ever

I'm having a hard time finding the answer to this on any of the official web sites: I'm 25 years old and currently receiving Income Support as a lone parent (my youngest child is 2.5). Am I allowed to do full-time education whilst on Income Support as a lone parent? I'm starting a course through Open University next month, but I know taking more than 1 course is full-time, so I'm hoping to find out whether that would be an option in the future. Thanks!

Skint_yet_Again

ever wrote: »

I'm having a hard time finding the answer to this on any of the official web sites: I'm 25 years old and currently receiving Income Support as a lone parent (my youngest child is 2.5). Am I allowed to do full-time education whilst on Income Support as a lone parent? I'm starting a course through Open University next month, but I know taking more than 1 course is full-time, so I'm hoping to find out whether that would be an option in the future. Thanks!

Hope this helps:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876

ever

That's the information I was able to find, however nothing more specific than "you may be able to claim if" so I was hoping to find out if anyone knew for sure the categories of people able to claim since it doesn't cut-and-dry say lone parents can.

Killmark

As its the OU so long as you started in the 2011-12 academic year and continue with 60 credits each year you will stay on the old system till 2017 and so will not effect your IS.

You should also get your fees paid via financial support but won't be eligible for a student loan.

If 2012-2013 academic year then you would be on the new system of student loans which may be counted as income and effect your IS.

Oldernotwiser

ever wrote: »

I'm having a hard time finding the answer to this on any of the official web sites: I'm 25 years old and currently receiving Income Support as a lone parent (my youngest child is 2.5). Am I allowed to do full-time education whilst on Income Support as a lone parent? I'm starting a course through Open University next month, but I know taking more than 1 course is full-time, so I'm hoping to find out whether that would be an option in the future. Thanks!

Even if you do more than one course it will still be part time as the OU doesn't offer full time courses.

Don't forget that you'll switch to JSA when your youngest reaches 5.

ever

My financial aid (no loans) was awarded in November 2011, but my course doesn't start until February (2012), so I'm not sure which category that would put me in. I'm hoping to cram as much of my education in while I'm able to claim IS so that I can go straight to work when I'm no longer entitled (although I know that's a far-fetched hope!).

I read somewhere that 30 or 32 hours of education was considered full-time for benefits purposes, which is what 2 OU courses amount to (32 hours/week according to the OU website), so I thought that meant, even though OU doesn't consider it full-time, it's full-time for benefits.

ever

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't forget that you'll switch to JSA when your youngest reaches 5.

You've touched on another question I'd not gotten around to asking-- are older lone parent IS claims not grandfathered to the rules that applied when they were granted? For example, I began claiming IS before the rule change of age 5 comes into effect, so despite that, my claim will end when she turns 5? I'm thankful that it exists either way, but if it stayed until she was 7 I'd be able to finish off my degree completely and be able to hopefully start a career!

drwho2011

ever wrote: »

My financial aid (no loans) was awarded in November 2011, but my course doesn't start until February (2012), so I'm not sure which category that would put me in. I'm hoping to cram as much of my education in while I'm able to claim IS so that I can go straight to work when I'm no longer entitled (although I know that's a far-fetched hope!).

I read somewhere that 30 or 32 hours of education was considered full-time for benefits purposes, which is what 2 OU courses amount to (32 hours/week according to the OU website), so I thought that meant, even though OU doesn't consider it full-time, it's full-time for benefits.

That is the 2011-2012 academic year.

Open University study is always considered part time even if doing 120 credits so you should be fine on the IS to JSA transition.

Having said that you can get a council tax exemption since the law changed in May if studying "full time" with the Open University.

drwho2011

ever wrote: »

You've touched on another question I'd not gotten around to asking-- are older lone parent IS claims not grandfathered to the rules that applied when they were granted? For example, I began claiming IS before the rule change of age 5 comes into effect, so despite that, my claim will end when she turns 5? I'm thankful that it exists either way, but if it stayed until she was 7 I'd be able to finish off my degree completely and be able to hopefully start a career!

You would still switch to JSA because OU study is considered part time by the JCP, regardless of the credits you do.

In fact if starting in 2012-2013 academic year and doing "full time" you would still only qualify for the part time student loan.

Vejovis

ever wrote: »

You've touched on another question I'd not gotten around to asking-- are older lone parent IS claims not grandfathered to the rules that applied when they were granted? For example, I began claiming IS before the rule change of age 5 comes into effect, so despite that, my claim will end when she turns 5? I'm thankful that it exists either way, but if it stayed until she was 7 I'd be able to finish off my degree completely and be able to hopefully start a career!

it doesn't matter when you started your claim, you'll be moved over when your child hits 5.

drwho2011

ever wrote: »

My financial aid (no loans) was awarded in November 2011, but my course doesn't start until February (2012), so I'm not sure which category that would put me in. I'm hoping to cram as much of my education in while I'm able to claim IS so that I can go straight to work when I'm no longer entitled (although I know that's a far-fetched hope!).

As long as your course is 60 credits you will remain on the same fee scale and funding method.

So long as you do at least 60 credits a year, however the transitional arrangements end in 2017.


You will be eligible for these transitional arrangements if

• you are studying towards an OU undergraduate qualification (certificate, diploma or degree)
• you start your next module linked towards this qualification between 1st September 2012 and 31st August 2013.

In addition, you need:

• either to have completed a module linked to your qualification which began between 1st September 2010 and 31st August 2011
• or to be studying for a module linked to your qualification that starts between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012 and remain registered after the module has started.

You will remain eligible for the transitional fee as long as you continue to study modules that are linked to your qualification during each academic year (1st September to 31st August).
The transitional fee period ends on 31st August 2017. If you haven't finished your qualification by then, you can continue to study with us but transitional arrangements will not apply to any modules that start after this date.
If you complete your qualification before 31st August 2017, the transitional fee arrangements will end on completion of your qualification.