I am in receipt of PIP & have recently migrated from ESA to UC. After many difficult years, I have tentatively begun a degree with Open Uni, but I have yet to tell DWP as I am terrified that they will see this as sufficient change to warrant reassessment. This would make me ill again & I am not sure I am prepared to risk that. I would rather give up the studying than jeopardise any progress I might be making. . That said, I am not comfortable not telling them.. Any advice or experience in this?
If you are in the No Work Requirements Conditionality group, there should not be any issue with studying for an Open University degree. The following are the DWP rules regarding this-
Open University students H6087 Open University courses are not F/T and are normally followed at times that would ft in with employment. Most of the course material is studied and undertaken in the person's home and not at an educational establishment. However they are still undertaking a course of study1 . The DM should have regard to whether the course is compatible with the individual’s expected hours of work (see ADM chapter J3050) and their work search requirement (see ADM chapter J3040). Any award made as a direct result of their participation on the course should be treated as student income in the normal way (see H6141 – H6144)
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
