Can I study part time and work part time on ESA contributory

DressingDown

Hi,
I have been receiving ESA contributory for several years.  I am in the support group because I was diagnosed with incurable cancer and am on indefinite chemotherapy. I also get PIP but not for anything like understanding complex info. My oncologist and cancer nurse have also sent what used to be called a DS1500 off and the PIP people then wrote to extend my award but never heard anything from the ESA people about it. 

I am doing well and like things to distract myself which are: 

 I work very part time. For myself. I know about the time limit of 16 hours and max earnings per week of £195 for this (I never exceed it) and have sent off multiple forms to the ESA people to declare this over the years. 

Also, I also study part time. Online. Post grad. I get DSA. 

My questions today are to check: 

1) am I correct in thinking I can I do the part time course AND continue working part time? (Macmillan advisors told me in an email I could but I am having a moment of paranoia) 
2) the course looks like it might increase in required hours. Does that matter? 
3) should I have told ESA people specifically about my study? Cannot recall if I have. 

huckster

1) Yes you can do the permitted work and study part time. If you receive or could receive student finance you need to inform ESA.  
2) you can study more hours as there is no work required by ESA that would be impacted by study hours.
3) Yes and to clarify about student finance eligibility.

DressingDown

Thanks for your reply.

I got student loan to cover exact tuition fees only. Nothing else as I was living at home, not a Uni, and I never claimed for any living or accommodation costs. Should I have told them about this anyway? I cannot remember if I did. Will I be in trouble if I tell them now, even though I started studying a while back? 

And I have the option now to get additional student loan to cover other things as well as just the fees…if I do that, does that change anything? Eg If I do that does that mean the ESA would stop? 

huckster

From what I understand having checked again, contributions based ESA is not affected by student finance and if you are in support group again your ESA is not affected.by your studies.

DressingDown

Thank you Huckster. Does that mean, in your view that I can claim the full amount of student loan (which is hundreds more than the tuition fees alone) without 1) impacting on the ESA contributory 2) having to tell ESA people? 

If so, would you be able to post a link to the applicable rule, so that when I have a moment of paranoia again, I can look at this thread? That would be very reassuring and stop the anxiety. 

(I do know I will have to pay back the student loan if I ever earn over the threshold for doing so). 

huckster

From the DWP Decision Makers Guidance

ESA(Cont)

41551 Where a claimant is entitled to ESA(Cont), being in education has no effect on entitlement to 

benefit.

Also if you look at the benefit guidance from Scope this also says that New Style contributions based ESA is not affected by being in education.

How student finance affects your benefits | Disability charity Scope UK https://share.google/o6dHSQ8pGyYpR9kxK

DressingDown

Thank you very much, that’s very reassuring.

Do I have to tell them I am studying? Their website states I should, but it’s not specific about ESA income or contributory or full or part time education. If it doesn’t affect the benefit, surely I don’t have to tell them? 

But if I do, I can’t use the phone due to my disability - is there a certain form I need to fill in? There is always a form for everything, no?! 

huckster

You should tell ESA. There is no specific form. Some ESA claimants had income based claims and these are affected by student finance. If your claim is definitely New Style ESA which is contributions based, that is not affected by student finance. if you inform ESA at least you have met terms of your benefit to report changes.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

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