Single parent - universal credit @ university help

Kristykake2000

Hi, 
Please could somebody help me? I am at my wits end trying to plan for starting university in September. 

As a single parent I will get: 
Maintenance loan made up of-

£6597 (this is what universal count) 

£3893 (special element) 

£1766 Parental learner grant

My course starts on 25th September and ends on 15th June. 

Gingerbread have told me I will get Universal £22pm
Citizens advice have told me I will get Universal £143pw.
So they are huge varying differences. 

Could somebody help me with out accurately please ? 

poppy12345

Students and benefits are very complicated but you'll need to give more information for anyone to even start to help you as It will depend on your circumstances. How many children? are you under or over 25? rent or own your home or live with parents?

It will depend on what your maximum UC entitlement is. The £6597 will reduce your UC £1 for £1.

calcotti

The dates for your assessment period may make a difference too. If your student income is spread over 10 months that’s a deduction of £659.70/month so your UC/month would be your maximum amount minus £659.70 for those months, assuming you have no other income. If it’s spread over 9 months then the deduction is £733/month.

Kristykake2000

Hi. 

I live in my house which is mortgaged. 

1 child.
over 25. 

Would my course dates class as 9 or 10 months ? 

Kristykake2000

One of the advisors said that universal ignore the last month of a course... is that true ? 

Alice_Holt

Look at the details in the two benefit calculations. What are the differences?
Does the Cit Advice calculation include the exemption from Council Tax?
I would suggest going back to the two organisations for clarification on any discrepancies.

Your basic monthly UC rate is £410 pm.
Child addition is £235 pm (£281 if born before 2017)
There will be no additional housing element as you don't rent.
Your student loan of £6597 will have a c£693 disregard for books / travelling. The balance will be applied as income against your UC allowances (spread over the term assessment periods). 
If you have savings over £6k this will reduce your UC payments.

Kristykake2000

I gave both of them the exact same details. None of the two companies mentioned a council tax reduction.
i have less than 6k savings. 

It’s literally so confusing. 

So it’s 410 + 235 = £645.
Then minus £590.40 (£6597 - £693books = 590.40). 5904 / 10 (months) = £590.40

So I’d get 645 - 590.40 = £54.60 per month

Or 9 months: 
5904 / 9 (months) = £656
So I’d get 645 - 656 = 0 basically

Have I worked that out correctly ? 

calcotti

Kristykake2000 said:

Hi. 

I live in my house which is mortgaged. 

1 child.
over 25. 

Would my course dates class as 9 or 10 months ? 

I think it can depend on how the course dates relate to your assessment period dates. What dates of the month does your AP cover?

Kristykake2000 said:

One of the advisors said that universal ignore the last month of a course... is that true ? 

See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students#student-income-and-your-universal-credit

For each assessment period that you attend the course, an amount for any student income you get will be taken off your Universal Credit. The amount is worked out from the actual student income you get that month less a set amount for expenses.
However, no student income will be taken off your Universal Credit if:

• the assessment period covers the first day of the summer holidays

• you’re on summer holiday for the whole of a subsequent assessment period

• your course ends during the assessment period

calcotti

Alice_Holt said: Your basic monthly UC rate is £410 pm.

Child addition is £235 pm (£281 if born before 2017)
There will be no additional housing element as you don't rent.
Your student loan of £6597 will have a c£693 disregard for books / travelling. The balance will be applied as income against your UC allowances (spread over the term assessment periods). 

I wasn’t aware of the £693 disregard. Thanks Alice. Where is it set out?

Kristykake2000

I will be quitting work in September and I’ll get my last pay from them on 26th October. So my assessment period would start on 27th October ? 

poppy12345

Kristykake2000 said:

I will be quitting work in September and I’ll get my last pay from them on 26th October. So my assessment period would start on 27th October ? 

No, your assessment period starts on the date you first started your claim for UC and lasts for 30 days each month.