Social work masters, NHS student bursary and Universal Credit chaos and impending poverty... help!

[Resisterance]

Are there any student social workers studying for an MSc on social work with an NHS student bursary, who are also single parents and in receipt of Universal Credit?

I need some advice as I'm being totally dicked about by the Department for Work and Pensions and they keep changing the amount I should be in receipt of whilst studying full time in year 2.

They are changing the amount due from last academic year though no changes there from my side and are now saying that I owe them money and that they have to take the £4000 odd I need to pay to the university for tutition fees plus the additional travel bursary into account as earned income.

This would mean that I somehow need to do this course full time and parent whilst living in the south east on 500 quid a month.

I'm not sure who to talk to about it and there's no way that we can live on that or continue with the course if that's the case. It's not even going to cover the rent. I'm really stressed. And that's on top of a challenging placement and college work.

Has anyone else had a similar issue? The advisor said they weren't used to NHS bursaries hence constantly changing their minds.

Any suggestions for advice and support around this?

I'm really really worried about money given a long confusing phone call from DWP today and another contradictory phone call from DWP last week.

Anyone?

I didn't think you could claim uc as a student? What's your student union saying?

When I did my SW Masters, I was a single parent. I worked 2 days a week and received UC which included my rent. I also got a bursary. Some of my classmates had some difficulties as the UC staff did not understand the nature of the course but were able to claim in the end

You can claim benefits as a lone parent student.

OP I don't know about UC but when I did mine I was getting tax credits and the NHS bursary and they didn't consider any of it to be earned income.

You need to speak to student finance asap and get some proper advice. I think it's a mistake as all my students (I'm a sw practice Ed) who are parents have been getting UC unless they are step up students who are paid by the la.
It's not earned income.

You should have a finance section within student services. I had the same problem returning to uni as a mature student with kids. I got the total runaround from the DWP, but uni were great and knew exactly what I should be getting. They gave me full details of how the money was calculated, which student finance should be deducted etc, and because DWP didn't have a clue, they accepted it.

You can as a full time mature student with children if you can't get a loan - social work has a bursary so eligible

It feels like UC staff just don't have a clue and are making my life tally difficult because they're not able to actually say they don't know

Thank you @pastypastypirate I'm not doing Step up or one of those programmes but the standard FT masters in Social Work. I will email student finance to see if they can help. I've asked the NHS bursary too to see if they might know.

It's so stressful!

Can your university offer any support? I did my training about 3 years ago and my university had a money matters guy (not sure what his actual job title was!). He would help with anything related to personal finance such as budgeting, claiming benefits, food parcels, emergency grants and bursary’s for those in financial need. I think my uni offered up to £1000 a year for those struggling. Your personal tutor can sign post.

Thank you. And sorry you've had issues too. It makes a stressful course even worse. I'm glad you got it sorted. And no The DWP really don't have a clue!

I'll contact student finance and hope they can help.

Yep most of them don’t know what they are doing when it comes to this specific course

They basically said today that if I challenged them they'd uncover some overpayment due to them. Really horrible

I’m a mature student - as pp said, student finance a very good place to start, also the student union often has brilliant people. You have to learn the special language which will drive you insane - someone in one of the above departments is already fluent and there to help you. Good luck!!

i got not UC. Full time degree student/single parent but mortgage not rent

I could claim in summer hols tho - they took my loan as an income (a certain amount) which i thought was absolutely redic!

but yes - unfortunately sounds right

I don't think it's correct. And the fact they don't seem to know and keep changing their mind is alarming . I'm going to ask the uni student finance and also CAB re this.

Well they've now halved my UC monthly payment and are expecting me to come in for meetings about work commitments when I'm on placement with the NHS full time and I can't pass the course if I miss any time as social work England state you have to do the full 100 day placement to pass the second year of the Social Work MSc.

I've emailed my uni all my finances and the UC information but they're still working it out. Honestly wish I hadn't started this course, it's been awful for my health, sanity and now my finances too!

Not sure what else to do but we can't survive as a family on what has been allowed whilst I'm training!

Have some faith in your uni that they can help. You’re not the first person to be in this situation, and you’re not the only person at your uni going through this I assure you. I know people on my course who took a little longer to pass to get the hours in but they did it. Have you spoke to your personal tutor?

Thanks. Hopefully I'll hear back from them soon at student services. It's so stressful. I don't think there's any point talking to my tutor about it though as it's beyond his remit and knowledge I'd say.

@Resisterance it really isn’t, they’re there to support you. They can help with essay extensions, rearranging placements and placement hours and sign posting you to services. It won’t hurt! My personal tutor was an angel when I went through a tough time and I used to get weekly 1:1 sessions and I’m thankful for her everyday!

Uni have told me that the UC calculation is correct and there's nothing they can do.

You need to contest it. Do they understand that its a full time course? Can your uni provide a letter? Ask for an in person meeting with a UC coach.

I am really struggling, I am coming to the end of my placement and UC have decided I owe them almost 4000, they've deducted 400 from my payment this month meaning I won't even be able to feed my family! I only recieve a bursary as I am an Ma student and last year the uc said they don't take bursarys into consideration. It doesn't make sense. We are here to try and better ourselves and we are being punished.
Did anyone get clarity on what is right.
Also being harassed for interviews to accept commitments when I an working full time plus 14 hours on a Saturday, spend 1 day with my children a week and they seem to think this is ok!

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-07-09/71757#:~:text=Any%20grant%20income%2C%20such%20as,in%20the%20Universal%20Credit%20award.

https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/funding/full-time-undergraduate-funding/student-income-and-universal-credit

https://nursingnotes.co.uk/news/workforce/dwp-incorrectly-deducts-student-nurse-training-grant-from-universal-credit-payments/

Any help?

Contact your MP's office and your union for help.

Thanks..its been a minefield and I've struggled on with sweet FA and amassing nearly 5k of credit card debt..I finish next week and there has been no change on it all really. I didn't think to contact my mp before but now it's election stuff so there's probably no point as this mp is stepping down.

This course has been a bloody nightmare from start to finish!