I'm working with a young woman (aged 20) from Uganda who currently gets income support by reason of incapacity. She does not qualify for DLA - she has some physical problems and some psychological problems arising from traumatic events in the past but is able to look after herself and has completed a college course. She has no family and is supported by Newham social services. She now has a place at London Met to start this term and has applied for student finance. I know that in some circumstances you can get student finance plus IS eg if you are a single parent or get DLA. I'm not sure whether you can get IS plus student loan/grant in her situation and would welcome advice. Thanks.

Have a look at the list of people who can get IS in schedule 1B of the Income Support (General) regulations. Paragraph 10 is disabled students. To count under the second they must be entitled to the disability premium in their IS (not applicable in this case: it means at last middle rate care of DLA or incapable of work for a year) or have been incapable of work for 196 days. Do you have any medical evidence? And is her course full time - it's only full-time students that are barred from getting IS.

Her student grant/loan will be taken into account as income and may still float her off IS even with the disability premium.