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Original poster

LCWRA and student finance

32 replies

bramblebug · 27/07/2023 15:30

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or insight on this.

I'm on Universal Credit LCWRA due to mental and physical health, but I've been considering attempting a distance learning degree part time. If I applied for a student loan to cover the tuition fees, would this affect my benefits at all? Would I be allowed to do this?

OP posts:

Relaxinghammock · 29/07/2023 09:46

bramblebug · 29/07/2023 09:41

I understand that but from what I gathered here, I shouldn't be entitled to it if I'm not able to attend in person.

Show quote history

You are entitled to a maintenance loan if you can’t attend in person because of your disability.

Relaxinghammock · 29/07/2023 09:46

As long as you meet the other eligibility criteria, obviously.

titchy · 29/07/2023 10:30

bramblebug · 28/07/2023 22:08

I went through the application (although I didn't submit it) and I said I was unable to attend a course in person. It still offered a maintenance loan at the end for over £2000 with the option to refuse it.
So I'm more confused than ever :(

If you say you are unable to attend in person due to a disability, that means you will be entitled to a maintenance loan.

If you don't tick that box, then studying with the OU means you WON'T be entitled to a maintenance loan. So don't tick the box!

You have to effectively say that your disability would not prevent you studying in person at your local uni, with adjustments in place if necessary.

Original poster

bramblebug · 29/07/2023 17:56

titchy · 29/07/2023 10:30

If you say you are unable to attend in person due to a disability, that means you will be entitled to a maintenance loan.

If you don't tick that box, then studying with the OU means you WON'T be entitled to a maintenance loan. So don't tick the box!

You have to effectively say that your disability would not prevent you studying in person at your local uni, with adjustments in place if necessary.

Show quote history

OH! I'm so sorry, I mixed that all up. In my defense it was late xD

Thank you all for your help and patience!

OP posts:

Original poster

bramblebug · 29/07/2023 19:21

Or too early. Either way I hadn't had enough sleep. Sorry for the misunderstanding and thanks again for the info!

OP posts:

senior30 · 30/07/2023 10:21

If you take out only a tuition fee loan then your UC won’t be affected. Maintenance loans do impact entitlement but you don’t lose your LCWRA element. The deductions still work out as being a lot better off than being on universal credit.

Confusedandvulnerable · 14/03/2024 14:05

I’m in receipt of UC LCWRA and PIP for mental health issues.

What are the restrictions with this regarding full time study? I’d really like to try to improve my life and maybe try work part time.

I really want to try something new as no longer interested in the arts, and don’t think this will make me a living long term. If I try to pursue that, I’ll never get myself out of a really shit situation either.

However, I can’t find any part time courses for what I wish to pursue, they are all full time and I don’t want to apply if this is potentially going to go against me.

Do I even need to tell them if I do a full time college course? I equally don’t want to get into trouble for not saying.

Any advice much appreciated.

(Sorry completely wrong area for new thread and may need to be moved.)

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