Finance for disabled part-time student

[Saracen]

DC is 21 with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, just finishing first year of a full-time degree course.

Overall it has been quite positive. They love their course and are doing well. But we always expected that the workload might prove too high and they might have to go part-time. It has been touch and go this year and they've barely managed to keep up. Coronavirus actually made it easier: online learning meant no need to travel to campus, and they could come home to be looked after by us sometimes, there were few opportunities to go out etc. That won't be true in future. And it has been difficult despite all this. They feel that carrying on like this isn't viable.

So they want to go part-time. Infuriatingly, the department are saying they cannot accommodate this, despite having said they could when DC asked specifically during the application process last year. I'm tempted to advise DC to push them harder. DC and I both think the modular structure of the course makes it theoretically possible to juggle things round if there were a real will to do so, but the admittedly very overworked staff don't want to make the effort and are instead encouraging DC to transfer elsewhere. Still, maybe it is simpler to go somewhere where they won't have to fight for everything.

Anyway, how will they pay their living costs? The maintenance loan is pro rata, isn't it - so would only pay half if they are on a half-time course. I imagine a non-disabled part-time student would be expected to get a job, but of course DC isn't well enough to do that.

I've offered to help DC apply for PIP, which should help a bit, but I'm sure that wouldn't cover the shortfall from having the maintenance loan cut in half. What's the usual funding avenue in a situation like this?

Thanks for any advice!

www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator
You can use this calculator to see what they’ll receive, but most part time students do tend to live at home.

Thanks for the link, Raven! I've had a go with the calculator but it doesn't seem to deal with this situation. I'm sure there must be a funding mechanism for such a case. There must be many disabled students who cannot manage a full-time course and also cannot work many hours alongside their course due to disability. I will keep hunting for info!

Most part time students do either work, or they stay at home so living costs are reduced. Entitlement is determined by intensity of study - not the reason for having chosen that intensity of study.

Did your DC access DSA this year to help them manage their course?

Is there a local university they could transfer to, or a distance learning option if that’s suited them well this year? If you opt for distance learning because of a disability you can still access student finance.

You need to look at the benefit system I'm afraid. Loans for PT students are pro-rata to intensity of study, with the expectation that salary or benefits will be added to make up income. The loan will be regarded as income for UC purposes, though there may be a small disregard. But UC for the rest of the income and housing support. Not sure whether PIPS is extra or rolled up into UC.

Hello saracen. My dd was in exactly the same situation at the end of her first year due to different medical issues.
Her university agreed to her studying part-time but crucially to studying a full-time course on part-time hours. This means that while the loan for fees is part-time, her maintenance loan is not reduced.
You will really need to university to be on board to get the part-time hours for a full-time course agreed though. Are they in touch with the university's disability service? They should be able to help with the negotiations.

It is an unusual situation and took ages to get SFE to understand what was going on but once sorted it has been fine.

Do apply for PIP and take advice about filling in the form and appeal if turned down. Full-time students can't usually apply for UC but can if they receive PIP. They do however have to have a work capability assessment (which is different to the PIP assessment). We decided not to put dd through that and in fact the maintenance loan is enough with minimal top ups from us and PIP covering some of the disability related costs.

Thanks, that's very helpful!

@SometimesRavenSometimesParrot yes, DC did use DSA and it has been helpful, especially for providing taxis when they were too tired to walk to campus. That will be even more important next year because they can't stay in the nearby first-year accommodation so have to move farther away, and of course there will be more in-person classes available.

The course is specialised and isn't offered at a uni near to where we live. Thanks for the tip about finance for distance learning finance for disabled students. The course they're attending will in effect offer distance learning to anyone who wants it throughout all of next year, because a number of students might have to drop out otherwise for Covid-related reasons e.g. restrictions on international travel. The students and staff feel that in-person attendance is really helpful both academically and socially, and DC has a strong preference for that, but absolutely everything will be available remotely. People can mix and match remote and in-person attendance.

@titchy great, that is the answer I was looking for! We'll have a look at UC.

@NoHaudinMaWheest thanks, that is brilliant information! Studying a full-time course on part-time hours is a concept which puzzles me. I would have thought the course was de facto part-time if the student is studying it on part-time hours...? The university's disability service has been fairly helpful so maybe they will know about that option. I'm not sure how to explain it to them if they don't. I don't suppose you have a useful quote from your correspondence with SFE which explains this avenue and why it should qualify for the full maintenance loan?

Sounds like we need to get on to the PIP application right away as that would be a prerequisite for UC.

I found that Disability Rights UK has some good information regarding finance for disabled students: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/fundinghighereducation They also have a disabled students' helpline.

If your DC claims UC then they will be expected to look for work, so they need to think about whether they want this added pressure.
UC is not designed for full time students unless they have other qualifying factors which makes them eligible. There is more wriggle room when a person is part time, however even if not well enough to work then they will need to provide fit notes, attend meetings etc etc, but they cannot use the studying as their reason for not looking for work.
As previously stated - any maintenance loans will
be deducted from their UC award, and it will be deducted to the maximum they can take, regardless of whether they take it (ie a person cannot use UC in lieu of the maintenance loan). You need specific benefit advice as PIP does not passport your DC through eligibility for UC when they are a student.

Thanks @Mbear.

No, they wouldn't claim UC while being a full-time student. Their student funding has been enough this year and would continue to be enough if they can manage full-time, so they don't need extra money.

The plan is to use UC as a top-up if they have to go part-time. I do understand that PIP does not automatically qualify them for UC, and they would also have to be assessed as having a limited capacity for work. I know it's a hassle, but I'm confident they would pass such an assessment. The overall picture is that DC can do about half as much work as a healthy person can do.

I will take your advice and make sure my assumptions aren't incorrect - the Disability Rights UK helpline for students looks like a good place to start.

Hi @Saracen, it might be worth looking at specific charities that support DC's specific condition. I investigated when my DD was at a specialist college a few years ago and found that a number of charities offer help with various expenses for disabled students. Some of the broader charities (Rotary Club etc) also offered discretionary funds at that time too. I know "it's charity " but if it helps DC achieve their goals it's definitely worth looking at. If you (or they) feel uncomfortable about accepting this type of help you could always set up a DD for a monthly donation back to the charity or get involved in a fundraising event for them?

Good luck to you and DC 👍🏼

@saracen The course dd is on is only available as a full-time course. No-one would normally be allowed to study it part-time. It had to be agreed by the authorities for the whole university that dd would be allowed to study part-time due to exceptional circumstances i.e. her disabilities. Hence the course is a full-time one but dd is studying part-time as a reasonable disability adjustment.

Does your dc have to move to the further away accommodation? It should be possible to ask accommodation to allow them to stay in the nearer accommodation on disability grounds. Of course they might not want to be mixed in with the first years!

Cheers @7catsisnotenough! That never crossed my mind. We'll keep charity funding in mind as a backup plan.

@NoHaudinMaWheest ah, I see. It would be the same for my DC if they stay on their current course, so that's very handy to know. I've heard that SFE isn't great at coping with any unusual situations, but would still be easier than UC I imagine!

Yes, I think DC should be able to stay at their current housing on disability grounds and I suggested that to them. But you're right that some of the other students can be disruptive to studies. In fact DC, who had come back to stay with us for a bit, has just decided to prolong their stay by another week after one of their flatmates announced the intention to host yet another party there this weekend. DC is considering ratting him out to the housing staff from afar in hopes that a stern warning from them will avert future parties. Tough decisions!

Hi @Saracen , it didn't occur to me originally either! We didn't go down the route ourselves but we had a lot of support/advice from various organisations. Good luck 👍🏼

Yes other students can be really disruptive. Dd has been at home almost all this year. When she has gone back she has found it so noisy that she has been relieved to go again. It has been worse this year with students not being able to go out so all the partying has been in halls.

@Saracen

Thanks *@Mbear*.

No, they wouldn't claim UC while being a full-time student. Their student funding has been enough this year and would continue to be enough if they can manage full-time, so they don't need extra money.

The plan is to use UC as a top-up if they have to go part-time. I do understand that PIP does not automatically qualify them for UC, and they would also have to be assessed as having a limited capacity for work. I know it's a hassle, but I'm confident they would pass such an assessment. The overall picture is that DC can do about half as much work as a healthy person can do.

I will take your advice and make sure my assumptions aren't incorrect - the Disability Rights UK helpline for students looks like a good place to start.

If your DD was told that part-time study was an option last year then I think the University must stick to that. Your daughter should contact the Disability service at her University about this; the University has a duty to make reasonable adjustments (this is a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010) so unless they can provide a very good reason why part-time attendance isn't possible, they may be acting illegally.

Your daughter should be able to claim both PIP and Universal Credit once her study status has been changed from 'Full time' to 'Part-time' OR if she is going to apply whilst still a full-time student, she will need to have PIP in place before applying for Universal Credit (as full-time students are only eligible for UC if they meet certain conditions).

The other option I guess would be for your DD to stay at home and just study online full-time next year again if she's able to manage it.

A full time student who gets PIP will only be entitled to UC if at the point of claim/becoming a student they have had a UC (possibly ESA) medical assessment and are LCW or LCWRA.
There is a check student eligibility that is completed once someone says they are a student and if there are no other qualifiers, then PIP alone will not make them eligible for UC. They cannot provide fit notes to get a med assessment, the eligibility is PIP and LCW/LCWRA.

@Anna727b "If your DD was told that part-time study was an option last year then I think the University must stick to that." Yes, I really think so too! It was a major factor in choosing this course. It isn't completely straightforward, and some modules would have to be taken out of order, but it does seem possible if there's a will to make it work.

On the plus side, it happens that the department is looking at ways to create a part-time pathway which would be available to new starters in a year or two. It strikes me that if they can find a way for my DC to try a part-time model now, imperfect though it may be, then DC could act as a handy guinea pig as the course leaders think through the details.

@Mbear

A full time student who gets PIP will only be entitled to UC if at the point of claim/becoming a student they have had a UC (possibly ESA) medical assessment and are LCW or LCWRA. There is a check student eligibility that is completed once someone says they are a student and if there are no other qualifiers, then PIP alone will not make them eligible for UC. They cannot provide fit notes to get a med assessment, the eligibility is PIP and LCW/LCWRA.

Thanks! Yes, your previous explanation about that was clear to me. Makes sense that it would work that way.

I'd go to the disability services in the uni - I'm on a full time course, but I contacted my tutor when I was struggling earlier in the year (my mental health is shot by the pandemic and schools being closed) and straight away she was working with me to try to formulate solutions in terms of moving modules around - so I deferred a placement module until the period in term where exams would normally be (our course is pretty much 95% continuously assessed) to reduce the load a bit. Likewise we have students who've done half the module load each year split over two years to support health needs.

I've found the disability department in my uni only too happy to go read riot acts to errant departments (I've had to stop them with a "nooooo - my department are fine - I just need this form doing" a few times!)

Update: some progress has been made with the university, which has decided that it needs to look at its provision across all departments to ensure that disabled students like DC will be able to do part-time hours on any course if they need to. This is great news, BUT sounds like a slow process. DC is going to press them to work in parallel to meet DC's immediate needs on an individual basis. They can't afford to wait for the university to do a major review. DC needs to reduce hours now, this autumn, not in a few years' time.

The idea of studying a full-time course on part-time hours seems ideal. @NoHaudinMaWheest would you be willing to tell me (by PM if you prefer) which uni your daughter did this at, and in which year that arrangement started? DC hopes to show the disability service at their own uni that there is a precedent so the disability service can help press for that arrangement and liaise with Student Finance if the latter don't recognise the idea. We might be able to refer our disability service to yours for assurance that the arrangement is possible. Thanks!

We are now in the throes of the PIP application but I know the decision process is currently very long. So that isn't an immediate help, but at least it will help eventually. I am dismayed to discover just how little I understood about DC's daily struggles. I always thought "it's a hidden disability, but of course I understand what DC faces". All the work we've done together on the form in recent weeks shows me that no, I really did not see how bad it is.

Hi Saracen. I'm about to go to bed but will PM you tomorrow

Thank you! I appreciate it.