Living whilst at Performing Arts College

[kzgirl]

If it's the government backed CDL this page says it can only be taken out for a 2 year course. https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/eligibility (they do often allow it for the second & third year of a course)

If you have found a different one I'd love to know where from as it could really help us

Hi

[kzgirl]

If it's the government backed CDL this page says it can only be taken out for a 2 year course. https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/eligibility (they do often allow it for the second & third year of a course)

If you have found a different one I'd love to know where from as it could really help us

Hi

I would certainly check to see if the college has registered the course for a career development loan, the college my daughter is attending has a registration number, it can be given for a 3yr course if there is a 1year practical work experience, I suppose the college is adding up all the shows that they participate in and other events and this makes up the year. When we rung up for the CDL pack we told the CDL advisor the name and length of the course and they also checked the course was eligible for the CDL. We were told yes it is.

[kzgirl]

If it is the usual level 6 Trinity 3 year musical theatre diploma then it is classed as higher education as it is the same level as a university degree in terms of assessment. This means no benefits unless your DD is doing any A levels or further education courses alongside - regardless of the fact that she is only 16. I think you may find that your careers office has got it wrong but the tax office and child benefit office will probably not. My DD went at 16 and we were initially told the same as you but then a notification came for revised child benefit and it had been stopped for my 16 year old. I phoned up and was eventually allowed to keep child benefit for the first 2 years but only because my DD was doing the minimum required number of hours of further education alongside (ie A levels). Housing benefit is also only for further education and refusal to allow housing benefit for 16-18 year olds on diplomas with no student loans has been appealed and refused in court so local councils have a legal precedent to refuse it now. I would seriously advise doing all your financial planning and budgeting on the assumption that you get nothing.

Hi

Thank you for this I will just quote the course my daughter is intending to do and let the child benefit centre decide. My daughter has just completed her A levels so doesn't need to do any whilst at the performing arts college.

[kzgirl]

I have just telephoned the CDL to confirm that the loan will not have to be paid back until one month after the end of the 3 year course and they have confirmed this is the case. There is no requirement to start paying any loan back in year 3 of the 3 year musical theatre diploma course. Hope this clears up for anyone wanting to apply for a CDL.

[Katymac]

OK - when I rang DD was 16 so couldn't claim anyway

But some of the colleges (Performers included) are allowed to be 3 years; but you can't claim until your 18th birthday - so while I knew DD couldn't apply I was confused as to why

Sorry kzgirl I got it wrong

[kzgirl]

OK - when I rang DD was 16 so couldn't claim anyway

But some of the colleges (Performers included) are allowed to be 3 years; but you can't claim until your 18th birthday - so while I knew DD couldn't apply I was confused as to why

Sorry kzgirl I got it wrong

Not to worry, I did loads of research after you said and I also thought I would check with CDL, if you had have been right we would have applied one year too early but all is good. Without the CDL my daughter cannot go, it will give a cushion for the 3 years she is there. The funding for this 3 year course is a mine field, it has taken me months to get my head around it all but i think we are nearly there.