Any Covid-19 financial help for students who are ineligible for Universal Credit?

Tangocox

It seems that all the financial help for those not on PAYE is through Universal Credit, but students are not allowed to apply for that.

I have a friend whose studies were financed through a small student loan and two part-time jobs in the hospitality industry, which have now evaporated.

She has no money, bills imminent and over a month until her next student load payment which won't last more than a few days anyway.

We are very worried as she seems to be in a catch 22, or has there been a provision announced that we have missed?

Any help & advice much appreciated.

unforeseen

She needs to look to the supermarkets/food distribution for part time jobs. They all seem to be taking on additional staff for picking and stocking. 

poppy12345

unforeseen said:

She needs to look to the supermarkets/food distribution for part time jobs. They all seem to be taking on additional staff for picking and stocking. 

Agree with this. My son is a student and has just got a job with his local supermarket.

strawb_shortcake

And health care trusts are recruiting, I imagine any work will get more money into your pocket quicker than benefits 

Tangocox

poppy12345 said:

unforeseen said:

Agree with this. My son is a student and has just got a job with his local supermarket.

Thanks Guys

She has got some part-time work at the supermarket but unfortunately can't earn anything like enough in the time available to her to cover what she has lost which was very flexible and relatively well paid.

Opportunity is limited as she is still being taught remotely over the internet and being in her final year is also working on her dissertation etc.

So I'm trying to find out if there has been any government help announced to cover what she has lost. She has been repeatedly told to apply for UC but as I say students are ineligible, so it's a catch 22.

Jeremy535897

There is no new assistance for students. Part time students can claim UC sometimes if their studies relate to their job. 

Andy.t71

I have a similar themed question. My son is a student and came home from Uni this week due to Uni closing down. He is in a contract with his hall of residence to pay £1000+ in the next couple of weeks and he obviously will not be there. The Hall is staying open despite the Uni being shut, I understand this as there are some foreign students who will need to stay but most of the students have now left. I am a guarantor for his fees. Where does he stand in terms of cancelling the contract with the Hall? It feels unfair that he should be expected to pay that money when he is not there.

neilmcl

Andy.t71 said:

I have a similar themed question. My son is a student and came home from Uni this week due to Uni closing down. He is in a contract with his hall of residence to pay £1000+ in the next couple of weeks and he obviously will not be there. The Hall is staying open despite the Uni being shut, I understand this as there are some foreign students who will need to stay but most of the students have now left. I am a guarantor for his fees. Where does he stand in terms of cancelling the contract with the Hall? It feels unfair that he should be expected to pay that money when he is not there.

Are the hall run by the university, have you/your son actually spoken to them about this?

Andy.t71

Thanks for replying. The hall is not owned by the university, it is run by a company called 'Abodus'. I think it has changed hands since the start of the year though, originally, he signed a contract with 'Host'. He has also been told he has to write to them if he intends to cancel the contract- I am unsure whether this will negate the need to pay the last instalment. 

Jeremy535897

The devil will be in the detail of the contract to provide the accommodation in the hall of residence. I imagine Adobus will have assumed the rights and obligations of the contract from Host. There may be something in there that requires the university to be offering courses. If there is no benefit in continuing the contract (I don't know how long it runs for), why not ask your son to write to them to cancel and say that he wants confirmation that the last instalment is not payable?