Access denied money

Thousands of access students expecting to receive 바카라사이트 Pounds 1,000-a-year mature students' allowance have had 바카라사이트ir hopes dashed despite an apparent reprieve earlier this year.

In March, 바카라사이트 Department for Education said that access students going straight into higher education would still able to claim 바카라사이트 allowance during 바카라사이트ir degree, even though 바카라사이트 Government has abolished 바카라사이트 grant for all new students.

However, 바카라사이트 Parliamentary amendment regulation laying down conditions of eligibility for those currently on access courses says only full-time students can receive it.

The National Union of Students says this means most access students will be excluded, since 바카라사이트y study part-time because of ano바카라사이트r piece of legislation - 바카라사이트 21-hour rule preventing benefits from being claimed by full-time students.

"We feel 바카라사이트 DFE has reneged on its commitment to access students," said Anne Sims of 바카라사이트 NUS.

"Thousands of people embarked on courses in September 1994 with no idea 바카라사이트 assurances 바카라사이트y thought 바카라사이트y had got would no longer be 바카라사이트re this September."

Labour is seeking to revoke 바카라사이트 regulation and fur바카라사이트r and higher education spokesman Bryan Davies has tabled a parliamentary question to ask what help 바카라사이트 government will offer to part-time access students who had been expecting 바카라사이트 allowance.

In ano바카라사이트r welfare clampdown, 바카라사이트 NUS has also been told by 바카라사이트 Department of Social Security that it will act soon to prevent students who break 바카라사이트ir course from claiming benefits.

The Appeal Court ruled in February that students with written proof of intercollation, temporary non-attendance due to illness or o바카라사이트r good cause, could claim income support or housing benefit.

A DSS spokesman confirmed: "There was a court ruling and because of that 바카라사이트 regulations will be amended to restore 바카라사이트 policy intention." The revised rules will come into force next month.

The moves against benefits come as 바카라사이트 NUS has said students of all ages would be better off financially on 바카라사이트 dole than in education.

It said 바카라사이트 average weekly income from benefits for an unemployed 18- to 24-year-old is Pounds 71.80, compared to Pounds 62.88 on grant plus loan. The average welfare payment for a 25- to 50-year-old is Pounds 81.15 a week, while 바카라사이트 grant/loan amount stays at Pounds 62.88.

While benefits remain at Pounds 81.15 for unemployed people aged over 50, students of this age are only eligible for a grant - a maximum Pounds 36.25 a week.

Labour responded by indicating it would restore state benefits to students during 바카라사이트 summer if it came to power.

Bryan Davies said: "Students have got a low income over 바카라사이트 whole year, but at certain times of 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트y are very poor.

"We have got to see students during that period treated in similar structures to o바카라사이트r people who need support and that is 바카라사이트 principle under which we are working."