Carers allowance/UC & p/t study rules ?

[medianewbie]

I'm a full time Carer. I receive Carers allowance & the Carers element of UC. I'd like to study a short OU 'access' course part time. I called UC & they said it would be a notifiable change of circumstances & I'd have to have an interview with a work coach (I don't have one as I'm a full time Carer). It might affect then the Transitional protection element of my benefits.

I also called Carers allowance & they said I'd have to declare a change of circs & then they could tell me the rules.
It looks like I can't improve my education for 6 hrs a week & be a Carer?
(I'm in Scotland if it makes any difference)

Does anyone know please ?

Hello ?

Bump

As long as you are studying for less than 21 hours a week (and you are still caring for someone for at least 35 hours as week) then you should still qualify for Carer's Allowance.

www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

The UC rules are more complicated but 6 hours a week should not mean a course is full-time (check that the institution doesn't consider the course full-time), so you shouldn't be ineligible for UC on that basis. You also have no Work Related Requirements as a carer so you shouldn't be ineligible because of not being able to meet your Claimant Commitment.

www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/part-time-students-and-benefits/can-part-time-students-claim-universal-credit

So I don't think your proposed course should cause an issue with either benefit (subject to the fact that incorrect decisions can be made at any time and this could mean your benefits are stopped for a period while you challenge them. I've also seen a lot of poor decision making by UC especially around student eligibility).

I am also going to caveat this by saying that I have not been a benefits adviser for a while now and there could have been changes I am not aware of. The rules around students are particularly complex so I would recommend seeking advice/confirmation from a benefits advice service such as citizens advice before proceeding.

Are you currently working if not then studying will not affect your traditional protection, UC remove your carer allowance /support payment in full so it doesn’t really matter if you claim that or not. Regardless as a partime student you will be able to claim anyway. The only thing UC will be interested in is any student loan for living expenses.. Join this FB for a more detailed answer “Universal credit and legacy benefit advice”

I always find it ridiculous that they won't tell you in advance thry always say go ahead make a change in circumstances and THEN we will tell you how it effects thr money like they don't have clear rules and guidelines they can look at

@NotVeryFunny
@DragonFly98

Thank you for replying. No I am not working at all. I am a full time Carer to my young person with multiple needs. I had tried to sign up for the 8 hrs a week course but I got onto the 14 hours one by mistake but it's still under 21 hours and yes I will still be caring for my young person in excess of 35 hours per week

Do I need to 'Declare' 'it to UC ? I really can't face having multiple messages about job coaches & worrying about possible Transitional Protection loss.

@Theunamedcat Yes, exactly! I had to move house 3 years ago which changed my circumstances. I was trying to do the most responsible thing (& also cost the taxpayer the least as I'd no longer need housing benefit) but it was genuinely impossible to find out what I needed to know. My old area CAB were fab but said the system is still so complex that you can come across advisors who make (genuine) mistakes as they give advice on an area different to theirs.
My new area CAB is barely open & they just give you a phone number to try. Universal Credit was supposed to stop this but it still seems quite complex to me

I have an incredibly isolated life and I'd really like to improve my skills.

then it won’t affect transitional protection. You only need to declare it if you will be getting a living costs loan as you have no work commitments. Not if it’s a tuition loan only.

@DragonFly98 tuition fee is £297.00. Paid for by Open Uni as I get low income benefits (UC). No change to living costs (I get living costs via UC)

I'm doing an OU degree and get UC and CA. I was told by CAB that it doesn't affect either benefit so I have never informed CA unit or UC. I don't receive any finance as the course fees are funded by a scholarship and I don't recieve anything for living costs. I am doing one module at a time so it's definitely part time.

There is nothing you need to do then, unfortunately job coaches are not very well trained.