UC unable to work - distance learning student?

Fruitloops

I receive UC as I'm unable to work due to disability, physical and mental. I'm concerned about the future so it's often in my mind to perhaps figure out something I could work towards to support myself again one day from home. As there are only limited options for me and all things I would need to learn new skills for, I've considered the possibility of studying through distance learning if I could.

I'm wondering if and how this would affect UC under my circumstances? There's a chance that because of my disabilities I'd fail to achieve things, so I'm unsure if I should attempt to think ahead in this way at all if it would put me in a worse off situation. I hope that made sense.

NedS

Firstly, you mention you are claiming UC and are unfit for work. Can we assume you have had a work capability assessment, and they have found you unfit for work and awarded you either LCW or LCWRA?

Secondly, whether there is any impact on your UC would largely depend on what level of course you are studying and whether you would be eligible for a maintenance grant or loan to support you whilst undertaking the course. If you are eligible for a student grant or loan, you will be expected to take it and your UC will be reduced as a result. The net affect is NIL (you get the grant or loan, and lose the equivalent amount of UC), but you have now accumulated a debt (the student loan) that may have to be later repaid if you should subsequently enter into work or potentially if the rules for repayment of student loans were to change in the future.

There are part time courses that one can do remotely (distance learning) that do not attract student finance and would potentially have no impact on you / your UC claim.

JJC1956

Fruitloops said:

I receive UC as I'm unable to work due to disability, physical and mental. I'm concerned about the future so it's often in my mind to perhaps figure out something I could work towards to support myself again one day from home. As there are only limited options for me and all things I would need to learn new skills for, I've considered the possibility of studying through distance learning if I could.

I'm wondering if and how this would affect UC under my circumstances? There's a chance that because of my disabilities I'd fail to achieve things, so I'm unsure if I should attempt to think ahead in this way at all if it would put me in a worse off situation. I hope that made sense.

Have a chat with your work coach, the DWP encourage people to take ‘Restart’ courses, INGEUS is one of their partners, checkout ‘Strive Training’ or the NCS (National Careers Service) a lot of the courses are held online via ZOOM, hopefully you can find something suitable.
Good Luck

Fruitloops

NedS said:

Firstly, you mention you are claiming UC and are unfit for work. Can we assume you have had a work capability assessment, and they have found you unfit for work and awarded you either LCW or LCWRA?

Secondly, whether there is any impact on your UC would largely depend on what level of course you are studying and whether you would be eligible for a maintenance grant or loan to support you whilst undertaking the course. If you are eligible for a student grant or loan, you will be expected to take it and your UC will be reduced as a result. The net affect is NIL (you get the grant or loan, and lose the equivalent amount of UC), but you have now accumulated a debt (the student loan) that may have to be later repaid if you should subsequently enter into work or potentially if the rules for repayment of student loans were to change in the future.

There are part time courses that one can do remotely (distance learning) that do not attract student finance and would potentially have no impact on you / your UC claim.

Yes LCWRA, sorry I wasn't clear on that. I think it would be something like a part time distance learning course that would be most suitable, so if they wouldn't impact my UC then it would ease my worry of something going dreadfully wrong. Thank you for the advice!

JJC1956 said:

Have a chat with your work coach, the DWP encourage people to take ‘Restart’ courses, INGEUS is one of their partners, checkout ‘Strive Training’ or the NCS (National Careers Service) a lot of the courses are held online via ZOOM, hopefully you can find something suitable.
Good Luck

I don't have a work coach unless I'm missing something major, but that's never been mentioned to me since I claimed which was in 2019. I'm on the LCWRA as I clarified above but forgot to say in my original post, so I don't think I have a coach but again I might be missing something. I will look into what you mentioned here. Thank you for the advice too!

JJC1956

Maybe phone the UC hotline, they should be able to help you or point you in the right direction, they can also send a message to your home DWP centre.
Can you access your UC account online? If so, click on Journal and it will give you a few options, you can post a message on there and hopefully they will get back to you with some advice. 
You can also independently check out for example ‘Strive Training’ the site might give you some ideas for courses, I personally found NCS to be very good, they have a huge database of companies that offer training.
I was appointed a NCS adviser, they arrange a phone call which takes about an hour, this gives them some idea to what you might want to do and which courses might benefit you.
Good Luck

sammyjammy

Doing any kind of training or course through DWP is unlikely to give the OP the distance learning course he is looking for, more likely stress and difficulties given he has LCWRA.

NedS

sammyjammy said:

Doing any kind of training or course through DWP is unlikely to give the OP the distance learning course he is looking for, more likely stress and difficulties given he has LCWRA.

I think the suggestion is more about using DWP for advice and suggestions as to what distance learning options are available rather than any expectation DWP would be able to offer any suitable courses directly.