Benefits and Full Time Study

April 2009 Can you claim benefit and study full-time? 1. Single Parents
You can do a full-time course and still claim Income Support, as long as your youngest child is under 12*.When your youngest child reaches 12 years old (*10 from 2009 and 7 from 2010) you will have to sign on unemployed and claim Jobseekers Allowance or Employment & Support Allowance if you are incapable of work (see section 5). You can only continue studying if you switch to a part-time course or you fall into one of the other categories below. If you get a grant this may affect your benefit, e.g. a grant may take you off Income Support. Check the section on mortgages and grants. New Deal for Lone Parents You may get help with the cost of course fees, fares or registered childcare or be paid a training premium. Contact a Personal Adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus.

3. Overseas Students
If you have come from abroad to study in Britain claiming benefits may affect your right to stay in this country. Before you claim any benefits, get advice from your local Welfare Rights Officer, Citizens Advice Bureau, Advice Centre or from the Welfare Advisers at your college/university. If the money you receive from abroad stops temporarily, you may be able to claim some Income Support, Housing and Council Tax benefits for up to 42 days.

4. Jobseekers
You cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance and study full time. You may be able to take an employment related course for up to two weeks if it is agreed by JobCentre Plus in advance. There are some education options under the New Deal. Full-time education and training option 18 to 24 years New Deal is compulsory for 18-24 year olds who have been signing on unemployed for at least six months continuously (some people can join early though). If you dont have qualifications at or above NVQ level 2 (or the equivalent which is 4 GCSEs A-C or 2 A levels) or you need help with basic skills, you may be able to do a full-time NVQ course of between 13 and 52 weeks. Your Jobseekers Allowance is replaced by an allowance of the same amount; the course provider will pay for books, equipment and fares. Funds may be available for extra expenses like childcare, or special equipment. Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will continue.

2. Caring for someone

You cannot claim Carers Allowance if the hours of your course add up to 21 hours or more a week. Don't count meal breaks, breaks between lessons, free periods or any hours spent studying that are in excess of the providers expectations. You cannot claim Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit if your college describe your course as full-time regardless of how many hours you study. If you have a partner, they may be able to claim instead.

Advice Line 01204 380460 Monday to Friday 10am to 12 noon Welfare.rights@bolton.gov.uk

Already studying part-time? If youve been unemployed for 6 months or more, you must still go on New Deal, even if you havent finished your course, (but you may be able to combine it with New Deal). Full-time education and training option 25 and over Education and training opportunity provision can include basic skills and qualifications up to NVQ level 3. You may be able to continue studying for the same qualification under the full-time education option, but you would have to do a course which fits in with the rules for this option.

benefit (this may be because you are on disability living allowance or are registered blind) or have claimed Income Support as a disabled student at school or college during the last 18 months or are deaf and can claim a special allowance on top of the basic student grant to help with your extra expenses as a deaf student. You can only claim Income related Employment Support Allowance if you are a full time student in receipt of DLA. If you are aged under 19 and doing a nonadvanced course (up to and including A level) for less than 12 hours a week, you can claim Income Support/ Income related Employment Support Allowance. Contributory based Incapacity Benefit and Contributory Employment Support Allowance do not have any rules which prevent you studying unless you are under 19. However if you undertake any activity whilst doing the course which conflicts with your claimed incapacity e.g. long periods sitting, your benefit could be reviewed. Remember to keep sending in sick notes to JobCentre Plus if they need them. Seek advice if you get an IB50/ESA50 questionnaire or are called for a medical assessment. If you are under 19 you cannot get Contributory Employment Support Allowance if you are in full time education of 21 hours or more a week. You should ignore any hours of tuition which are not suitable for persons without a disability. Disability Living Allowance is not usually affected unless the requirements of the course conflict with your stated care needs. Sometimes the Social Security Office try to argue that doing a course means that you need less care. Seek advice if this happens to you. The New Deal for Disabled People is voluntary

5. Long term sick or disabled

In October 2008 Employment Support Allowance replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support for people who have limited work capabilities, but existing claimants can continue to get these benefits and some people claiming now may be able to link their claim back to before October 2008. There are different rules depending on which benefit you are getting so it is important you check this first. There are two kinds of Employment Support Allowance Contributory Employment Support Allowance and Income - related Employment Support Allowance. If you are aged 19 or over or doing a degree level course (at any age) you can only claim Income Support if you are treated as a disabled student: You must either have been sending in sick notes to JobCentre Plus for the last 28 weeks or get a disability premium as part of your

and may include training or study to help you get a job.

parents or any person acting in their place. However once you reach 20 years, you can't carry on claiming while studying full-time. You will have to sign on as a Jobseeker to continue to claim benefit. You may be able to switch to a part-time course and keep your Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance. Seek advice from your college. If you can't claim for yourself and you do a non advanced course, your parents can carry on claiming extra for you in any benefits they are entitled to, for example: extra Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax benefit, as well as getting Child Benefit. Any benefit for you stops on your 20th birthday. (Also see below for Education Maintenance Allowances) If you do a full-time advanced course (above 'A' level), you can't claim benefit and your parents can't claim for you on their benefits either. You may get a grant. Check the rest of the leaflet to see whether you are in one of the groups who can study full-time and claim benefits. Education Maintenance Allowances Education Maintenance Allowances is paid direct into a bank account to encourage young people (in year 11 at school) to stay on for further education. You can receive up to 30 per week while you stay on at school or college. The amount paid will depend on your parents income or your income if you are treated as independent. You will also have to meet attendance targets. You can also get bonus payments of 100 depending on the progress you make. See the Educational Maintenance Allowance fact sheet for further information. This allowance does not affect any other benefits.

6. Pension Age

Women over 60 can study full-time Men over 60 and studying full-time cannot claim Income Support but can claim other benefits, including Pension Credit which has more favourable rules than Income Support. If you get a grant it may affect Income Support/Housing Benefit - see Can I apply for a grant section.

7. Young People
Aged 16 to 18: If you are 16/17 years you are expected to go on Work Based Training, get a job, or stay at school or college studying full-time. If you begin a non-advanced course (up to and including A level) of more than 12 hours a week before you are 19 you can claim Income Support if you are in one of the following situations: you are entitled to a disability premium or have been incapable of work for 28 weeks you have no parents or anyone acting as your parent (that includes the local authority) you cant live at home because * your relationship with your parents (or the person acting) has broken down * of physical or moral danger * of serious risk to your mental or physical health * your parents cant support you because they are sick or disabled, or in prison, or unable to come to Britain. * you have left Local Authority care and of necessity you have to live away from your

8. Other help

Housing Costs - rent The general rule is full-time students can't get Housing Benefit either in term time or in the summer vacations falling within the course. There are exceptions when you can claim Housing Benefit. These are similar to the rules for claiming other benefits while studying full-time elsewhere in this leaflet. (e.g. you are on Income Support or would be but your grant income takes you off). You can also claim Housing Benefit if: You are under 19 and studying up to and including 'A' levels (not higher education) whether or not you get Income Support. You are a lone foster parent and a child has been formally placed with you. What if my partner is the student? You may be able to claim Housing Benefit for both of you. Seek advice. If you are also a student and you have a child, you can claim Housing Benefit in term-time and sign on unemployed for benefit during the long vacation.

A grant for an advanced college course may take you off benefit and affect your mortgage interest payments. Seek advice first if you are thinking of doing an advanced course. Council Tax There is no Council Tax to pay if all the adults (age 18 or over) in your house or flat are full-time students. If some adults in your house are not full-time students (e.g. working) then you may get a council tax bill. Claim a Council Tax discount, this means 25% or 50% off your bill if you or someone else in your household is a full-time student, or is 18 or 19 years and has just left school or college. (Also see Council Tax Benefit below) Council Tax Benefit You can claim benefit if you and your partner are both students and you have a child, or you are a single parent, or long-term sick, or disabled, or 60 or over. (If you have a partner who is not a student s/he can claim for both of you). If you have another adult (age 18 years or more) living in your household who is not your partner and who is on a low income, you may be able to get "a second adult rebate" on top of your discount. You can claim this even if you can't claim Council Tax Benefit. For more information and claim forms contact your local Council. Child Tax Credit If you have at least one dependent child you will be able to claim Child Tax Credit.

Housing Costs - mortgage If you have a mortgage and claim Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Income related Employment Support Allowance, the DWP are probably paying some or all of the mortgage interest direct to the lender

Working Tax Credit If you or your partner work 30 hours or more and are over 25; or if you or your partner work 16 hours or more and have children you may be able to claim Working Tax Credit. College fees - Advanced course: (degree level) Students may have to pay towards their college fees. It depends on your income or your spouses income. Your parents income will be taken into account if you dont have independent student status, for example: you are under 25 and are unmarried and have not been supporting yourself for at least 3 years. You may not have to pay anything if you are living on benefits. Non advanced courses: College fees for some courses may be reduced, or free, if you receive benefit. Ask the college. Other financial help: Some help may be available from the college's discretionary support funds or from educational trust funds and charities. If you are disabled, help with equipment may be available from college funds, a special allowance on your grant, trust funds and charities. Can I apply for a grant? If you are going to do a full-time course, apply to the local authority. To qualify for a grant in Bolton you would usually need to have been normally resident in the area for a full 3 years prior to the start of the course but there are some exceptions. Basic grants for advanced courses (degree level) were abolished from September 1999.But you may be able to claim: Parental Learning Allowance Adult Dependants Grant School meals and help with health costs for some CTC claimants

Childcare Grants Disabled Students Allowances

Student loans If you are under 50 you will be expected to take out a loan. 25% of the loan is means-tested. If you are 50-54 you can apply if you intend getting employment after your course finishes and confirm this in writing. Will a grant or student loan affect my benefits? If you can claim, your benefits will be affected as follows:

Non-advanced courses - any award is usually ignored by the DWP and for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims. Advanced courses - Grants and student loans are treated as income (less certain allowances) for Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit. Grants for dependent spouse paid under the "Student support" system are income for Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit purposes. If you are under 50, you will be treated as having received a student loan and your benefit will be reduced, even if you havent taken out a loan. You may have to accept a loan to maintain your income level.

A grant may take you off benefit. Seek advice on your finances before deciding to do an advanced course. Incapacity Benefit, Contributory Employment & Support Allowance, Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, Carers Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are not affected by a grant or loan.

Giving up a course early, changing a course or taking time out? If you abandon your course or are dismissed from it you may be able to claim Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance straight away, but if you received a grant while studying you may be treated as still in receipt of the grant income for Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Income related Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. Also the Local Education Authority may want the grant repaid. If you take time out of full-time study and you are claiming Income based Jobseekers Allowance, Income related Employment Support Allowance or Income Support, the DWP will still treat you as being in full-time study. If you swap from a full-time to part-time course you should argue that you are no longer a fulltime student see information on Part-time Study. Remember before starting a course: Check out all the costs of studying for example: fares, child care, equipment, residential courses and visits etc Get a copy of A guide to financial support for higher education students by calling the Student Finance information line on 0800 731 9133, quoting reference S/FSHE/V8.

Useful contacts
Housing Benefits: Council Tax: 331590 331599

Pupil and Student services Education & Culture Dept: Paderborn House, Bolton 333333 ea.pss@bolton.gov.uk Directgov webpages http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearnin g/index.htm

Where to get advice

Welfare Rights Service 01204 380460 Mon-Fri 10.-12.00, for advice and help with appeals. Citizens Advice Bureau 0844 826 9707 (for advice, form filling, help with appeals (subject to legal help eligibility) Citizens Advice Bureau 01204 900213 Home Visiting Service for housebound people for advice, form filling, help with appeals. Community Legal Advice Free, confidential and independent government funded advice legal advice for callers eligible for legal aid. Visit www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk or telephone 0845 345 4 345.Mon - Fri 9am 6:30pm.Calls from 4p per min -callback and translation service available. Remember that this leaflet is only a general guide to benefit and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. Changes in the law may affect the accuracy of the leaflet. Seek advice before acting on this information.

Advice Line 01204 380460 Monday to Friday 10am to 12 noon Welfare.rights@bolton.gov.uk