ESA SDP & PIP - OU Student Loan - Compliance Interview

[Elizabella]

Hi, I am in receipt of income related ESA with the SDP element and also receive PIP. I currently study part time (16 hours a week) with the OU. I received a student loan for tuition fees only for the one 60 point course that I honestly struggle to keep up with due to anxiety and depression.

Yesterday I got a letter from the DWP asking for a telephone compliance interview later this month. The thought of waiting so long stressed me so much that I rang up and spoke to the compliance officer. She said that I should have told them I was studying (I genuinely didn't know that student loans were classed as income and because it was applied for online through a government portal that I thought it would notify and show up other government departments). I applied for and received the loan before I was eligible for PIP and SDP which was awarded later.

She said that there shouldn't be a problem as the amount is so small and it is part time but that it will need to be referred to the ESA people for a 'decision'.

My student loan was just over £3K for the student loan. I m below the savings threshold and have no other income apart from benefits. I do not receive maintenance of special support for disabled students.

I am really scared now that they will take my ESA away and my housing benefit. Can someone tell me what the rules are and what happens next please? Will they take money away from me?

A student loan is not counted as income. Or at least mine was not.

Hi backaftera2yearbreak, thank you for replying. The lady I spoke to today said it would be counted even though it is part time and only a small amount. I feel worried sick about it now

I took the student loan last September/October

If it was just a tuition fee loan (and not a maintenance loan) it will be disregarded and won't affect your ESA or HB.
See www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Student-Support/How-does-student-support-affect-benefits

You should probably send the ESA office a copy of your student loan paperwork so they can check it.

Hi AnotherEmma, thank you for replying. I only took out a loan to cover tuition fees not any type of maintenance or disabled student allowance, It was exactly £3012 which is the cost for the 60 point course only.

I get income related ESA with the SDP element and also standard rate PIP.

I have sent her my OU acceptance letter stating which course I am on and student loan confirmation letter. the lady did say she though it would be disregarded as it was a small amount but it needed to be checked by the ESA people. I find it all so confusing and overwhelming and it has made me so anxious that I have felt sick all day that they may stop money from me. I took the course on the advice of my GP and others as a confidence builder (bullied out of last job hence the anxiety and depression) but I really struggle to keep up. A friend helps me with it as some weeks I can't do anything at all.

I am 99% sure it will be absolutely fine, if I was at work (I work in this area) I would check the benefits for students handbook to be 100% sure... I will do tomorrow if I remember!

Thank you so much