IB and Open University

I'm not sure whether this has been discussed before although I tried searching the forum so please forgive me if it has, I can't find the thread.

Whilst I'm waiting on the decision from the medical I had nearly two weeks ago, I would like to go ahead and register with the Open University to further my education. I've contacted the DWP to find out about their policy on part-time higher education whilst receiving IB and the lady I spoke to was less than helpful. As I previously had some issues with a UK university messing up their credits and subsequently jeopardizing my receiving JSA at the time, I'm very wary of anything like this happening again, I can't afford to survive on nothing and the reason I want to take a degree is to make myself employable again, in a field I enjoy.

So my question is this: has anyone here successfully retained receiving IB whilst studying with the OU and if so, what is the best course of action you would advise me as to notifying the DWP of this change of circumstances? I'm especially curious to find out that in the event of the benefit being withdrawn, would I be able to claim ESA whilst working part-time if it came to having to work to support myself whilst studying.

I'm like a lion in a cage and I feel that studying, even from home, would help my depression and make me feel like I can be of worth somehow. I really do want to go back into work at some point, not because I have to but because I can do.

Sorry, it was a bit long. Thanks for reading this far.

Hi, my husband has been doing an OU degree for almost 5 years now (nearly finished) and had no problems with the DWP and his IB.

Things may have changed since, but he had a medical last year and was asked about his progress. It has not affected his entitlement at any time. HTH

IB is not counted as a qualifying benefit for OU study how ever you may still qualify under there low income rules. It changes in September that they no longer provide grants for short courses to people on benefits only to courses which make up compulsory parts of a nominated degree course.

I have been studying part-time with the OU for just over 5 years whilst receiving IB. It's one of the things which helps to give me focus in my day-to-day existence. At no point (yet) have I experienced any problems from the DWP.

Because of Adrianmidwales post I've been looking for more info about financial assistance for OU study. It seems his post relates more to OU students in England and Wales,as there are different eligibility criteria for those in Scotland (where I live).

See css2.open.ac.uk/FafCalculator/eligibilit...FS=False&Country=ENI to work through the questions for more info.

This is one of the annoying things about the OU in that you could, living in Scotland, [theoretically] be a millionaire and still receive a full fee waiver by virtue that you claim IB and or DLA, extreme example I know but it highlights my point. However in the rest of the country a different (means tested) regime applies.

The Open University is one single University but it operates differently across different boarders; so perhaps not as "Open" as it could be!!