Universal credit, working & studying

[Comefromaway]

Dd is aged 20 & left college last summer and moved to another city as she wanted to carry on studying. At the moment she’s studying 4 days a week at a private college for a year. She isn’t studying towards an accredited qualification but if she passes their internal diploma she has a guaranteed place on an accredited MA course that they run.

She was fortunate to get a job that fits in with this. She works approx 20 hours per week and earns above minimum wage. It’s enough for her to live on but it doesn’t cover her rent which we are paying.

Her housemates are mostly in similar jobs with a similar income but some claim universal credit which means they get help towards the rent. I checked and the rent is below the amount allowed for the area for a room in a shared house) I’d assumed that dd would not as a student be able to claim but everything refers to either non advanced education or accredited qualifications. She gets no student funding until next September when the MA begins. We have loaned her the money for her tuition fees.

She earns above the universal credit commitment level (apart from a couple of weeks when Covid closed her place of work down) but below what someone her age is expected to be able to live on.

Does anyone know if it’s worth her applying and if so does she put down that she’s studying or not?

I would apply anyways but I don't think she will be entitled to anything. Money Saving Expert have a benefits calculator you can use. They should give you a rough idea what your DD is entitled to (if anything)

If she's a student she won't be allowed at all. I was estranged during my studies and only received around 10k a year even with my disabilities and wasn't allowed to claim anything.

She will have to put down that she's studying, otherwise it's benefit fraud. I don't think she will be entitled but it's worth a go

She told me yesterday that because she’s not on an accredited course she’s not entitled to apply for any student discounts. She even pays council tax.

You can claim along part time study, but if the course is not accredited, they'll base that decision on the amount of hours (directed and non directed), and four days a week is highly likely to be deemed full time.

What college is this? Is there a reason why she's taking a non accredited course?

It’s a private drama school. The college was originally set up to provide part time training in the day for working actors/those in between jobs. Then they expanded to offer full time courses. They run an MA that is accredited by a university but Dd is not yet of the standard/only has a diploma not a full undergraduate degree so she’s training with them for a year before enrolling on the MA. Dd previously trained as a dancer at vocational school but Covid disrupted things.

So she goes there 4 days a week and works evenings and weekends 20 -25 hours per week. She earns more than the minimum work commitment for someone her age.

She will absolutely (rightfully as well) not get universal credit for that, either you will need to contribute or she can get a better paid job / work more hours. Is there anywhere cheaper she could rent?

Her room is incredibly cheap for the area. Everywhere else is at least £100-200 per month more. She struck unbelievably lucky. (It’s incredibly run down but she doesn’t mind that.

She cannot work more hours. She earns above minimum wage. She did apply for a promotion but didn’t get it. That would have been a bit more per hour.

She fulfils the “commitment” that is expected for someone on universal credit so she could literally sit at home all day in the week (then work evenings and weekends exactly the same hours as she does now and she would be entitled, not to much actual cash, but she’d get council tax and housing benefit.

It just struck me that what she does is no different to someone who, for example goes to classes at somewhere like Pineapple in the day then works at night but obviously from what you all say it appears it is.

So I found this. This describes Dd

“If you are a student where student grant or loan for your maintenance is not available, you will only be allowed to claim Universal Credit if you and DWP agree you can meet your claimant commitment which may include work search. If you are expected to work on Universal Credit, this could mean that you need to agree that you will give up your course if offered paid work that conflicts with your studies. “

No harm in applying and see what happens! If she's not entitled then she won't get any Universal Credit! Good luck! Let us know what the outcome is!

I've just re-found this thread. She explained everything to them and a work coach and she was entitled. She has now stopped claiming because her tenancy came to an end and she was able to find a room in a cheaper area where the LHA was not so high, plus she has finally been able to increase her hours at work.