Question about OU fees

[stuffedmk]

I am posting this here as I know you guys know a bit about the OU and thought this might be useful info for some home edders aswell.
I am looking at studying with the OU (hopefully towards a degree). I have done one openings course and due to currently TTC thought I'd look at more short courses. I got finacial support for my openings course as we get some benefits. Having looked at the online eligability checker it seems that I can get support for courses of 30 points or more but not for the courses with less points (unless I am "studying a course, residential school or project which is compulsory for your qualification and you are receiving financial support for a 30 or 60 point course").
If I put in that it is my first course then I would be eligable.
Sooooo have they changed the rules recently and only help with the first short course?
Might be something to check out with regards to home edding as I'm sure there must be kids wanting to do more than one short course? (I tried it putting £0 in the income box and it still came back the same).
As we are still keeping the possibility of home ed on standby this is a bit disapointing if accurate.

Looking at an open degree rather than a named one so no course would actually be compulsory.

AFAIK, it has always been the case that there is no funding for short courses unless in receipt of benefits and full funding for 30+ courses. I don't know about changes for those in receipt of benefits.

We do receive benefits which was how I got funding for the first course.

You could always ring the OU. I'm on an openings course at the moment and I got funding.
However, when I looked at the OU Financial Assistance Page, it said that because I'm now a pensioner, I didn't qualify. [I was on Income Support before].
It was when I told them I was on Housing Benefit, that they said I would now qualify..

I have emailed them and am waiting for reply, may ring them if I don't hear back in next couple of days. I have looked at everything I can and I think the openings may have a seperate system for funding so am looking at a couple of those. Just waiting for confirmation of this.