Dear Claire
Access funds can be considered as capital and disregarded. Student Loans can
attract a disregard too. This man's situation is so complicated (can he get
Disability Premium on his own account, can his wife claim Housing Benefit or
are they all living in halls of ressidence etc etc.) that he urgently needs
expert advice. Has he tried Citizens Advice Bureau, have you tried Child
Poverty Action Group? Sorry I can't go into more detail but I'm snowed under.
Regards
Liz T.
At 13:14 04/11/97 +0000, you wrote:
>A student with insulin-dependant diabetes is experiencing financial constraints
>that may force him to withdraw from his course.
>
>The student, R, left his previous employment to start full time study in higher
>education. He is married with two dependant children, one of whom is severely
>disabled and received the highest rate of DLA. RÕs wife is unable to work, as
>she is a full-time carer. She receives Carers Allowance, and is applying for
>Income Support.
>
>They have been informed that RÕs grant, student loan and any awards from the
>Access Fund count as income, for assessment of his wifeÕs Income Support.
>They are appealing, but by the time a decision is reached R may have had to
>withdraw from higher education.
>
>RÕs maintenance grant is insufficient to pay his accommodation in halls of
>residence, and the student loan will have to be repaid in due course. He is
>unlikely to be able to work to supplement his income while studying, as he has
>been experiencing frequent ŌhyposĶ recently, which are made worse by tiredness
>and stress.
>
>He is applying for DSA for extra expenditure on food and footwear and to buy a
>small refrigerator for storing insulin at College. Would he also have to
>declare this as income?
>
>Can anyone suggest a way forward? The fact that Student Loans are counted as
>income for means-tested benefits generated some lively discussion at the Skill
>seminar last week!
>
>Clare Davies
>Student Services
>Nene College of Higher Education
>Northampton NN2 7AL
>01604 735500 ext 2390
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|