Access Courses - Maintenance Loan

You can get the advanced learner loan that covers the course and gets written off when you complete the degree. In terms of assistance for living costs - zero. If you are a parent, there may be assistance, but I am not too sure.

Thanks, i've applied for the advanced learner loan.

Looks like im working full time too!

A lot of people just signed on job seekers allowance(me included). It was 16 hours a week exactly so the college signed a letter saying it was part time and that pretty supported me through the entire course.

Seriously?! When was this?

This year. I just finished it and I’m heading to university in September. I’m still on JSA now. I’m looking for a summer job but no luck so far but the JSA is enough to go out once a week and food so it’s all good.

I was told that an access course is full time education... it even says online that you aren't eligible if studying a level 3 or more than 12 hours...

"Full-time students
If you’re studying for A level or an equivalent qualification, you can’t usually get JSA until you have stopped studying and your parents have stopped getting Child Benefit for you. Child Benefit payments stop after the last day of February, May, August or November (whichever comes first)."

It’s until 12 hours if you’re under 18 or 19. Part time is under 16 hours if older.

The majority of colleges will sign a form saying it’s part time or full time - whatever you want. It’s exactly 16 so I just told them it was part time and gave them a letter from my college saying it was part time.

But it isn't 16 hours, those are just the contact hours. But with independent study it's definitely full time.

Fair enough if you got away with it. My college were very clear that we were full time students though.

Yes but it’s subjective and my work coach agreed. It’s up to me if I do 0 hours of study at home a week or 10. It’s not like the job centre is watching what I do in my home. lol

It shouldn't be subjective. You're basically cheating the benefits system.

Wrong. I did almost all my independent study during class. I never told one lie ...my work coach agreed it was subjective.

If you did all your study in class then why quit your job and scrounge off the tax payer? Why didn't you just work like the rest of us?

Because I’m not a moron? If someone gives you £1 million for free you’re not going to say “no I didn’t earn it so I don’t want it”. I’ll take advantage of EVERY situation that I need to if it means progressing in my life. Go cry about amazon, google and all the other companies making taxes increase by having billions in tax havens while I get my £57 a week. lol

I also don’t expect to pay back my entire student loan so the taxpayer will be paying for that too.

We're talking about you working 10-15 hours. If you're too lazy to do that then you get zero respect from me, however you dress it up.

I DO "cry about" big companies, politicians and officials for giving themselves big tax breaks and bonuses and expenses. It's called corruption. And while you may not be far up that ladder, you're definitely corrupt in my eyes.

Obviously I went to interviews. The issue was there was always loads of people applying for the jobs so tough competition.