studying, carers allowance, benefits etc anyone help me??

[MissTired]

i posted this in money matters but though after maybe someone on here might have been in a similar position and know?!

im starting a degree with open university in october and worrying if it will mean our benefits change or drop?

original thread here

thanks to anyone who can help

I've replied on your other thread, just to say that you can't get Carers if you're on a full time course.

See here

"You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are on a course of full-time education or you are on holiday from a course of full-time education.
Full-time education means 21 hours or more of supervised study each week undertaken through a school, college, university or similar educational establishment. This includes time spent on related exercises, experiments, projects or examinations."

No idea about the other benefits though - sorry!

Oh - just realised it's the OU. Probably doesn't count then, as it's not supervised study.

oooh ill have to ring the carers people and ask then, hmmm i hope we wont be worse off for me doing it that would be a nightmare!

thanks m0nkeynuts xxx

If you are doing 1 30 point OU course then you are fine as they say 16 hours a week, if you are doing 2 then it's the same full time study and will affect your benefit.

oh no im doing 60, but thats over a year, any idea if that makes a difference, they run together, 2 modules both 30 run from oct-june

Ou is not not 'supervised'. It's equivalent to having a hobby as you're studying in your spare time.

You'd need to check but I think you could argue the point.

I was wrong

This web page explains it

www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits/Pages/CAclaimsandchanges.aspx

If you're a student in full-time education you can't receive Carer?s Allowance.
What counts as a student?
You count as a student if you attend school, college, university or a similar establishment. This could include distance learning with a body such as the Open University.
What is full-time?
If you attend a course which is 21 hours or more a week, that would be counted as full-time education. You could be considered full-time even if you don't have to be in a classroom or under supervision for all of those 21 hours. If you're expected to do certain hours of coursework or study on your own to fulfil the requirements of the course, those hours will count towards the 21-hour limit.
If my course is less than 21 hours, can I be paid Carer?s Allowance?
Yes, part-time students are allowed to receive Carer?s Allowance.
Do breaks and lunchtime count towards the 21 hours?
No, these are ignored.
If I am full-time, can I claim Carer?s Allowance during vacation periods?
No, you'll still be treated as if you are in full-time education.
My course is less than 21 hours a week but I have to do some extra studying to keep up. Will that be taken into account?
No, if you're doing more than is reasonably required by the course, it shouldn't count towards the 21-hour limit.
Example
Joe is a carer and first-year history student at Birmingham University. His timetable means that he only has to be in lectures for eight hours a week. However, the university states that the course is full-time, and it would expect Joe to do a minimum of 20 extra hours of studying a week to meet the reasonable requirements of the course, such as essays and exam preparation. In other words, it expects him to do 28 hours a week, which is over the limit for Carer?s Allowance.
Who decides whether the hours I spend studying on my own are a required part of the course?
Evidence from the school, college or university will be very important. However, you could argue that you're able to complete the course in fewer hours than would normally be expected. That could be because you have some prior qualification or experience, or simply because you work more efficiently. Some students have successfully appealed against decisions refusing them Carer?s Allowance. If you would like to appeal, get further advice from a welfare benefits adviser.
Example
Joe decides to appeal against the decision to refuse him Carer?s Allowance. Although the university says it would expect him to do a total of 28 hours a week (eight hours of lectures and 20 hours of self study), he argues that he spends only 12 hours a week studying on his own.
Joe says that he had already covered some of the topics in an A-level at school, therefore he has prior knowledge that helps him complete essays more quickly. He also argues that his caring responsibilities mean he has to work in a very organised and efficient way. He also points to the fact that his grades are good despite studying fewer hours than the university expects him to.

oh no ill have to look into that then and see what they say, how stupid is that ill be doing it while ds is either asleep or at school and till be caring for him well over the 30hrs a week or whatever it is for carers allowance!! all these stupid things seem to just try to stop carers having any work prospects or any life, would they rather i was sat doing nothing when hes at school as no job will have me term time only between 9.30 ans 2.30 with days off for sickness, appointments etc! stupid system!

Totally agree, MissTired! Am surprised that OU counts as full-time study really but the info that WetAugust posted seems quite clear! Let us know how you get on when you speak to them.

thanks, just looked on their site and they say 60 credits over 9 months equals approx 16 hrs a week so hoping i can ask them to give me that in writing that the two 30's equal that and then get carers still, added complication is i was hoping to do two 30's from oct-june, and start another 30 feb-oct, but i guess unless i can prove that all the work for the other 2 has already been done or for one of them than thats not an option!! want to do it , as quick as i can but with funding so can only do certain amount of modules at certain times etc!! im really excited about doing my degree as its something different from what i dropped out of in 3rd year of uni opefully i will get further with this and actually finish it as im more keen on studying now less keen on drinking all day am doing maths and statistics degree and very excited!! sad i know!

oh I'm really sorry, I meant one 60 point course, - so sorry to confuse you. I spoke to the people at the DWP and that was what they told me, that's why I'm now doing one level 2, 60 point course this year and then one next rather than doing them both together which was my original plan.

I do agree that it's not supervised in the same way as it would be at a 'normal' university, but you do have a tutor who marks your work as is available for tutorials and to contact. (Although due to the needs of my DS I have never yet made a tutorial!)

i cant see me making a tutorial either!!

If you are in one of the Pilot areas for DCatch you would definitely get some help and it looks like it will become national, cuts allowing of course. It states clearly that it is to help parents of disabled children work but I'm sure it includes study too. Look here
www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/healthandwellbeing/ahdc/childcare/childcare/

Would recommend getting in touch with OU Student Services/Union or similar - am sure that many of their students are in this position and they'd know how to deal with the situation. I reckon you'd be able to argue that it's not FT study but may have to be careful about how you word things.

Very annoying that they even try to catch people out with this - OU is definitely not eligible for FT student 'advantages' eg Council Tax exemption or railcard, no matter how many hours you study. But when it comes to taking money away, they're all too happy to put you into that category.

yeah will try them and find out what they say good idea! cant talk properly now since ds headbutted my lip and i have a proper lump and its sore! so will have to be tomorrow if its better, i sound funny now im sure i do lol

thanks xx

Omg what.... that is crazy.... I'm a student.... I'm only on campus about 9 hours.... any additional hours of study I do In my very limited free time which is late at night or weekends because I am caring for my child.... what do you mean I don't qualify....Is this a joke? I care for my child more than the Hours I do course work.... and as for not claiming in the holidays? What? I wasn't a student in the holidays and I didn't even know if I was going to pass and go back...wtaf is this trickery

Dollyd123 you would be better starting your own thread. This thread is 13 years old. Rules change, distance learning like thr OU can now be classed as part-time study.

But, yes, if you are a full-time student you can’t claim CA. You are a student in the holidays, which is why you continue to be exempt from council tax in the holidays.