Benefits help and university

[stopmefeelingsick]

My son is about to start university but is disabled (receives enhanced rate PIP)

I've been told if he claims LCW or LCWRA before he starts university he can then claim UC, but that the student loan he gets will be deducted from his UC.

Does anyone know if this is correct? Is it worth getting (it's a lot of hoops to jump through if his student loan brings the benefits down to nil)

Also can anyone help with the timeline? I know he has to apply to LCW/LCWRA before starting but does this just mean actually starting in September or applying for student finance. I'd hate to apply for finance and then find out that means he's no longer eligible.

Thank you!

I can't help you , but I hope someone comes along who can 😊 .

It is true he can claim UC when he has LCWRA but student loan is deducted £ for £ so it may make his award nil anyway x

You don't claim Lcw etc as such. You have to claim uc and submit sick notes to start the process which can take many months.

Another way to do it is to claim ESA for NI credits only and then he will be assessed. If he receives the support group in ESA he can then apply for UC with LCWRA,

Not all of the student loan is deducted from UC, there are some portions excluded so he may or may not be eligible.

It is better to get some proper advice from a disability charity or one of the many UC groups out there on FB.

As an aside, please make sure he also applies for Disabled Students Allowance.

Oh gosh, thanks for your help everyone but I'm even more confused!

Will he get UC at university if he gets LCW and not LCWRA?

Do we have to apply for UC first to kick start this?

You mention ESA. He has never worked so would he be entitled to this?

It all seems so complicated!

It's worth getting UC simply because you then get paid UC over the summer holidays. That's about 10 weeks. Also UC will pay for accomodation and that can be a considerable help.

You do get to keep a small amount of the loan, about £100.

If you get a Special Support Loan or Grant then this DOESN'T come out of your UC.

He will be eligible for ESA, income based.

The citizen's advice have information as do 'Turn 2 us'.

Thanks @sashh Will he be able to get ESA if he has never worked?

I've just read it's takes three months from first claiming UC before they assess for LCW, and you have to be awarded LCW before your course starts in September so that's quite a tight deadline.

I'm not sure he can claim until he finishes his college course either so it's probably too tight.

They certainly don't make it easy!

I used to be an expert on the old benefits as I claimed while at uni, I didn't go until I was in my 30s and had to give up work. THen everything changed

I've just checked an 'new style ESA' is only if you have NI credits.

So it seems it will be just a UC claim, he will also move from DLA to PIP.

I would say apply now. If they award UC it is backdated to the application date. If they don't award it they will tell you why, so he may have to wait until the end of term.

Assuming he is awarded UC that's just under £300 a month and then if he is classed as limited capacity for work another £390 a month.

As I said, it is worth it just for the holidays, and it also provides NI credits which IMHO is also worth it.

No they don't make it easy at all.

If you contact a disability charity or Citizen's Advice then they may go through the application with you both.

You'll find some useful information + a helpline here www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline