Legacy Benefits - Higher Education

I'm on legacy ESA (with SDP elements), as a result, I also claim Housing Benefit (and have the carer premium as I am the registered carer for a family member). For reference, I am also on Enhanced PIP. This is all for a chronic, permanent serious mental health condition (which I remain in treatment for).

I am considering pursuing going into Higher Education with a local organization, and am trying to work out what this would mean in terms of my situation. Because of the mix of legacy benefits, I'm on I'm keen to avoid triggering a UC application via natural migration.

I'm somewhat struggling to find information as to whether applying for Student Finance is going to 'trigger' this, and am trying to make an informed decision. Further to that, even if this application does not trigger a UC application, I'd welcome any input as to what will happen regardless.

Hi Jason. * This is a very complex area, and you will likely be given the ‘wrong’ advice. CPAG are publishing a guide to ‘students & benefits’ next year. Go to their website and have a look (child poverty action group).
* Look at DSA (Disabled Student’s Allowance). Disability Rights UK do a factsheet.
* Your (proposed) university will have details on it’s website under Disability/ Wellbeing Services, which will give you a snapshot of what support services are available to you. TAKE ALL THAT IS OFFERED.
* Make sure you have all the facts you need before entering into a course of study. Things are changing all the time. Hopefully getting SDP will help you (but they are hacking away at this so be aware), as will receiving Legacy Benefits.
* DO NOT MOVE TO UC if at all possible, but as you are in the Support Group, you MAY be ok even if you are forced to (you need to have been through a WCA at some point if I remember right to be able to get ‘benefits’ as a student. Which you have, as you have been placed in the Support Group). As usual, everything is unnecessarily complex so people go away.
Good Luck x

cpag.org.uk/shop/cpag-titles/student-sup...lesni-17th-ed-202021

Out already… just checked.

Doh! That’s last year’s guide. A new one is coming out in the New Year so you may as well wait and get the most up to date. Sorry about that… not enough coffee