Mature student finance help needed = im going round in circles !!

happyhelston

Afternoon everyone - 
My son has moved to a new city after a breakup, is 29 and is going to college to study a Higher Education course in Sept '25 - he needs to do this for further University course entry.
He has funding for the course but we are not getting anywhere with potential funding for housing/living etc
He contacted the college who said he doesn't fit for maintenance loan, is this right ?
He will be getting work to fit around the hours he is not in college.
Currently I am funding his living in private rented accommodation but this is not sustainable and I'm realistic that if he went to the council and said he was homeless (which he is) the chances of help are very very low. 
He cant come home, we don't have room as we were served notice by our landlord so currently living in our daughters spare room - what a pickle.
Id love any constructive assistance apart from don't be a student !!
Thank you

Brie

Does he, you, someone in the family, have any links to any organisation that might provide some funding?  I'm thinking a union, industry, military, banking link.  Religious affiliation?  

Any benefits available ?  Universal credit?  Housing benefits?  Might check with citizen's advice.

Has he/you googled the college site to check on what maintenance loan might be available?  Just because someone said no doesn't always make it the right information.

Well done for him doing something challenging.  And hope your housing situation gets sorted sooner rather than later.  

happyhelston

Afternoon - sadly no links to any organisations.
College have said his course doesn't cover a maintenance loan but I think you're right the best option will be someone from the benefits side rather than him trying to go it alone - sometimes in life you just need a little assistance to get to the next step.
Thank you for your kind response

Spoonie_Turtle

If it's classed as full-time advanced education then he won't be eligible for UC unless he is responsible for a child or has a health condition that affects his ability to work AND has been assessed as not fit for work before he starts his course AND claims a disability benefit.
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/universal-credit-mental-health-guide/help-with-your-universal-credit-claim/how-to-claim-universal-credit-as-a-student/  (scroll down for info about types of education)

Though if a maintenance loan truly isn't available then there's a chance it might not be classed as that.  I don't know how you find out for sure, though.

Housing Benefit cannot be claimed unless he's a pensioner (or in certain sheltered/supported accommodation which from the given information, there's no reason to believe will apply to him).

The only other potential I can think of is JSA, assuming he's been working in the last few years, but again it will depend on what exactly the course is https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility

happyhelston

I think JSA might be the way ahead, he has been working since leaving school but was living in London and couldnt afford to stay after breakup so found himself sofa surfing !
Thank you for your response, really appreciate it -

sheramber

What course is he doing?

What is the funding he has already for the course?

happyhelston

He is doing a access to Higher Education course which is fulltime = they have given him an Advanced Learner Loan

huckster

Universal Credit and students - GOV.UK https://share.google/F7b2PmO5qxqteetNN

If you read the above it says about claiming UC, if course is non advanced, there is no student finance and they are available/searching for work. You mention course is funded and it will depend on the details.

No harm in him submitting a UC claim, providing all of the information and finding out if he is entitled or not

HillStreetBlues

No harm in him submitting a UC claim, providing all of the information and finding out if he is entitled or not

One harm could be if later found not to be be entitled then DWP has the right to try and reclaim payments. Not saying OP isn't entitled but there is a risk (however slight) in trusting to DWP to get it right first time.

NedS

HillStreetBlues said:

No harm in him submitting a UC claim, providing all of the information and finding out if he is entitled or not

One harm could be if later found not to be be entitled then DWP has the right to try and reclaim payments. Not saying OP isn't entitled but there is a risk (however slight) in trusting to DWP to get it right first time.

Yes, I have seen multiple cases where DWP failed to correctly assess a student's eligibility, and they were later found not to be eligible creating a large overpayment. Some overpayments were £20,000 or more.

Generally, full time students in advanced education are not eligible to receive UC unless they fall into one of the exception criteria details above. Does he have any dependant children that live with him?

happyhelston

no children - no dependants - Ive suggested he call Citizens advice and ask them for assistance - Thank you