Student Finance and Benefit Cap

Laithar

Need advice. I am currently completing my first year of a degree for which I have claimed student finance to help me. As I am 50 years old, I get the maximum.

My query is with regard to child tax credits. For the present moment, student finance is disregarded because the amount I get is below the threshold to claim for tax credits. But when it becomes Universal Credit, I have read student finance will be counted as income towards the benefits cap. Does anybody else know if this is the case?

At the moment, it's a struggle but my partner and I just about manage, but if it's true about Universal Credit, I feel I will have to give up my studies.