§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time students in receipt of discretionary awards, who do not qualify for a student loan, will lose entitlement to social security and housing benefits.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere are estimated to be some 48,000 discretionary award holders, but not all such students are excluded from receipt of a student loan.
It is not possible to estimate the number of discretionary award holders currently receiving benefit as the social security data collected do not differentiate between types of student claimant. However, those students in vulnerable groups, including students with 493W dependent children, disabled students and those students in further education under the age of 19, will retain entitlement to income support and housing benefit.
Those full-time discretionary award holders who lose entitlement to income support, unemployment benefit and housing benefit will be able to turn to the access funds for further financial assistance.