Help: student finance when medically intermitting

JodieCLM

Hi,
I'm a final year student and I've had to intermit on medical grounds until October when I'll start the year again. That's all fine, I'm just very confused by the information out there regarding the impact this has on my finances, so I'm hoping someone here has the knowledge to demystify my situation. For context, I'm a mature undergraduate student of 28, I've not had any student finance before this degree, and I am in receipt of the care component of DLA. These are the things I'm most perplexed by:

1) I read somewhere that students in receipt of DLA who have to intermit during their degree can write to SLC and request that they still be given the finance they would have received if they didn't get sick. Thus, I would receive this last term's loan and grant despite not studying. Is there any truth to this?

2) If I apply to increase my DLA from lower care to middle rate care (because I've got quite a lot more unwell) would it have to be reassessed under PIP, because I've heard that many people are unsuccessful with this?

3) How do I go about finding somewhere to live without an income? I have some savings, but agencies and lots of private ads stipulate that you be earning, so what do people in my situation normally do? (NB: there is no family home for me to stay in, so that's not an option).

Any advice you have would be gratefully received.

Jodie

agrinnall

I would ask question 2 on the Benefits board and question 3 on the Housing board as they are more relevant places for those questions.