College, benefits, kids, how does it work?

BlueAmy

I'm not sure this is the right place to post, and I have a bit of what seems to be a complicated set of questions.

I am a mother of three boys aged 11, 4 and 2 years. The eldest two have disabilities and 11yo receives high rate care low rate mobility DLA, 4yo receives middle rate care DLA. I get child benefit, carers allowance, income support and child tax credit as well as housing benefit. My area moves fully to universal credit in December. Having recently ended a long relationship I'm going back to college, if I can afford to!

I'm in Scotland if it matters. College offer a bursary of £98 per week plus £16 for travel. They also say if you stay on universal credit, you can receive a maximum bursary of £28 per week.

They offer childcare costs of a maximum of £175 per week.

I have no clue what I'm even going to receive in universal credit/if I qualify.
I have no idea if starting college forces me to switch over early.
If I have to move to universal credit do all of my benefits stop at once? Are there options to get by if this does happen.

From what I've read I would continue to receive my children's DLA and child benefit and carers, but my college course would end my carers claim.
Plus a college bursary of £28 a week plus £16 travel. Which might be enough to survive on for a few weeks until the claim is processed.

College website/brochure says nothing about current benefits and how they affect the bursary.

I'm more worried about the housing costs than anything. Because £98 a week won't even cover my rent!

I realise the best option is to call them and ask but I don't think they're going to know about whether starting college puts me onto universal credit and I can't bear a day on the phone to DWP so I was hoping this might be a good place to get some advice from people who may have experienced similar and have some clearer answers.

calcotti

The migration of existing claimants to UC has not yet started. A trial was intended to start in Harrogate this year but the enabling bill has not yet been put to parliament (distracted by other issues). The full transfer is scheduled to be completed in 2023 (I think) but so far every stage of UC has been delayed. You are not therefore going to be required to switch to a UC for some time yet unless your circumstances change in such a way that you lose one of your existing benefits and need to claim a UC.

Because you are a single parent I believe you can continue to receive housing benefit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-rent-housing-benefit/#if_you_are_a_student

You will not be able to get Carer’s Allowance as a full time student. You remain eligible if your hours of study are less than 21 hours. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

I suggest you contact the college about the bursary and your existing benefits.

Any student income you receive may be taken into acc Unit and reduce your IS and HB. You may also be expected to claim any student loans available to you.

The rules for students are complicated. Do you have access to a Citizens Advice who could go through this with you.

poppy12345

BlueAmy wrote: »

My area moves fully to universal credit in December.

All areas have been a full UC area since December 2018.

sheramber

poppy12345 wrote: »

All areas have been a full UC area since December 2018.

That is for new claims.

poppy12345

sheramber wrote: »

That is for new claims.

Yes i know but the OP said that their area moves to full UC in December, which isn't correct.

bigbill

A bursary suggests the course is not advanced?

Which means you do not have access to the loan?

If you take the bursary at £98 weekly this will be higher than your existing Income Support by about £50 weekly so this will stop along with the Carers.

You can keep you existing Tax Credits and more importantly your Housing Benefit and do not need to move to UC.

Stop_Watch

If this is a full time course will you still be able to provide the 35+ hours a week care needed for carers allowance for your children?

bigbill

Stop_Watch wrote: »

If this is a full time course will you still be able to provide the 35+ hours a week care needed for carers allowance for your children?

I am pretty sure she will still be providing over 100 hours care but the rules say a carer cannot be a full time student.

[Deleted User]

Remember 'care' is 24 hours a day. You can be doing a full time job, and still easily meet the 35+ hours a week caring requirement. I remember the tiredness well, as a carer.

Most college courses anyway, are for less than 21 hours a week, but this can easily be checked with the college.

calcotti

deannatrois wrote: »

Most college courses anyway, are for less than 21 hours a week, but this can easily be checked with the college.

The hours referred to are expected hours of study - mot just hours at college.