Full time study with family

incrediblebulk0

Hi i am looking to possibly do a college course which is classed as full time but is like 21 ish hours a week. I am on income support and other benefits due to being a carer for my disabled wife, she recieves pip for a life long condition. I have two children under 10 also. I can get care for my family during the hours of college and nothing more and only for the duration of the course as it is elderly family member.

What benefits am i entitled to still with me going to college (technically full time). We recieve at the moment income support, carers allowance, tax credits, housing benefit, pip and child benefit. It is either going to be a level 2 or level 3 course in mechanics.

Reason for course is i dont want to live on benefits and i could potentially work from home self employed as a mechanic or breakdown person to work around my wifes condition.

NedS

With respect to the college course, it doesn't matter how many hours it is from a benefits point of view - if the college classify the course as "Full Time" then it will be treated as such for benefit purposes regardless of whether it's 4 hours or 40 hours per week. If you receive any grants or student loans, you must report these to DWP.

The requirements for carers allowance are that you are providing 35h of care per week. As long as you are providing that care, it does not matter if you are at college doing a course or not.

You could alternatively apply for Universal Credit, which would replace your Income Support and Carers allowance, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit into one monthly payment. You may or may not be better off so I would recommend trying a benefits calculator to see before applying. Once you apply for UC, you can not go back to the old benefits system so your claim for IS, Tax Credits and Housing benefit will close.

incrediblebulk0

so i woudnt be able to recieve income support or i can? would i stay as i was just have to inform of grants etc. calculators dont let you do it as a student as they say it cant promise accurate results

NedS

You are receiving income support because you are a carer. As long as you are able to continue to provide 35h/week care, you will continue to receive income support, assuming you have no other income.

Do you expect to receive any student loans / grants? I am not sure how any student income may affect your IS

incrediblebulk0

no if my benefits stay the same il just study and recieve no grants loans etc.

incrediblebulk0

it says online that if you in "full time education" you cant recieve carers allowance

poppy12345

Full time students are unable to claim carers allowance. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

If there's a loan/grant available to you and you decide not to take it then it will still be classed as income and affect means tested benefits.

incrediblebulk0

why is that? if its available and i dont want to recieve it how can that be fair? as in pay for the course myself etc.

poppy12345

Maintenance loans/grants affect means tested benefits, whether you take them or not. If it's available to you then it counts as income.

Margaret_100

There may be additional support as you will be a full time student. It will depend on the exact level of your course and may include extra as you have children.
Condider looking at https://www.gov.uk/student-finance as well as speaking to the student union at your college who should have a good knowledge of what is available to someone for students taking your proposed course. Should student finance be available look carefully at how it would affect your benefit income. 

incrediblebulk0

ok thank you all for your help, i guess speaking to the people themselves will be best