ESA and Student Grant

[Nervous_andscared]

Hi, I’m really scared and nervous to write here, as I’ve never done anything like this before. 
 

I had a telephone DWP compliance interview the other week, when I had the letter I thought I’d been called up at random as I couldn’t think what I’d done wrong. 
In 2016 I started an open uni course part time as I was working, however a few months later I suddenly became unwell and was off work a year before finally becoming dismissed. I had to claim ESA while I was still employed as I hadn’t paid enough tax. My mum helped me make the ESA claim over the phone and one of the questions was ‘are you in full time education’ which I replied no to, but we said I had as at the OU part time. 
I had to attends job centre visits and told them again about my open uni course, and every year I phoned up for a letter to confirm my ESA for my student fee loan and a part time grant. 

The compliance officer is investigating me because I hadn’t declared my studying even though he had it down that I said I was with them. So I’ve had to send in all my information on my student grant which is £1155 a year. 
I’m terrified of what is going to happen because I’m sure they had everything down about it all. I’m still claiming ESA for my illness and I’m in the support group, and I’m upset because I’m sure everything was down. 
I just wondered if anyone knows what’s going to happen to me. 
 

Best wishes 

[dx100uk]

nothing much i doubt.

 

even if it is 'bad' it would only be a small monthly repayment

 

go onto the DWP website and type in SAR 

then fill it out and send it.

 

if they are going to make deductions they MUST hold the evidence you owe it.

 

dx

 

 

[Nervous_andscared]

Hi Dx100, thank you so much for replying, I’ve been panicking I’ll go to jail or something for some sort of mistake. 
I’ve never heard of SAR, I’ll have a look, thank you  

[unclebulgaria67]

Grants are not normally considered by benefits, because the grant is towards basic costs of attending the course. 

 

Benefits would consider student maintenance loans towards living costs, but you have not mentioned these.

 

For a part-time Open University course I don't think maintenance loans would have been available. But you may wish to check this, as benefits will take into account maintenance loans at the maximum level, where the claimant has not take these out, but could have done so.

[dx100uk]

You will not end up in jail nor with a record.

stop panicking.

 

Dx

[Nervous_andscared]

Hi, thank you both for replying, you’ve both been helpful. Sorry my reply is late, the stress of it all knocked me for six. 

[dx100uk]

no need to stress over this, nothing unusual and even IF you do owe anything, small payments can be arranged.

 

but don't forget they must have written evidence you do owe them anything, not just some 'note' on the system from some external audit agency, which they do sometimes use, that thinks you do.

 

get that SAR done.

 

dx