Income Support into higher education

isthistrue

I am a single parent currently on Income Support, due to go to university in September. I understand that Income Support, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit have a 'run on' of 4 weeks if you go back to work. Can the same be said of going to university or do the benefits stop as soon as I notify them of the change of circumstances?

isthistrue

sorry - to be clear, I realise that I'll be eligible for a full council tax 'discount' as a student so that isn't an issue. Obviously, Housing Benefit will be re-calculated taking into account the various loans/grants that they take into account....but will Housing Benefit run at it's current level for 4 weeks and will Income Support continue?

I ask because my student finance isn't due to kick in until later in September and I will have a sticky few weeks without the benefit run on - would rather know it's coming than it catch me unawares!

mikey_bach

if this is you first year in college then your student loan will be taken into account from the benefit week that includes your course start date.
Say you are a Thursday pay day, you start your course the 24th Sept your loan would be taken into account from 21st, so your claim would close 20th..
In other words your claim will close on the payday before you start college, these rules apply to first year students only different for the rest.
You need to notify I.S you are starting and send in full details of the grant when you receive them.
Depeding on what you get you may still be entitled as parts of the grant are disregarded eg fees for study etc
there is no four week run on for starting college
Good luck with your studies must be a lovley feeling

isthistrue

thanks...course starts 3rd September...finance due to kick in on the 24th (student finance not particularly helpful with getting this changed so I'm stuck with it!). I assume I am no longer eligible for IS from the 3rd (or Sunday 2nd will be the last day) regardless of when I receive other finances? I won't continue to be eligible for IS due to large bursary but that isn't due to kick in till the last week of September....so without Income Support for a couple of weeks, I'll need to juggle some direct debits and manage petrol costs for travel.

There is therefore no run on if going to college rather than work?

mikey_bach

Oh you are unlucky, normally first year courses start later in September
The bursary even though you dont receive it until the end Septemeber it is attribuited for the period it covers, beginning of September to end of June so will close your claim

What they normally do is suspend the claim untill they receive the info to prevent an overpayment, once you have informed them you have started your course

No run on for starting college only work.
Cant think what you can claim for those weeks.
As you say maybe a bit of juggling at least you know you will get your bursary at the end of September.....

isthistrue

thanks mikey - yeah, it's a pain. thankfully the childcare provider has been very understanding or there'd be £700 to find on the 3rd! Ah well, I'll cancel some direct debits which will free up some money and then even it all out at the end of the month. At least now I'm prepared! thanks again.

mikey_bach

hope it works out well for you and good luck with your studies

Dunroamin

Many students use the overdraft on their student account to tide them over this period; could you do that?