INCAPACITY BENEFIT AND COLLEGE

Can anyone help? My son is 21 and is disabled, he receives DLA -highermobility - lower care plus Incapacity Benefit (long term). He wants to return to College, the courses offered by Disability Employment Advisor only provide for qualificaitions of a similiar or lesser standing to which he already holds. They will fund him to go to a Residential College cost £38,000 a year! However he wishes to go to local college and continue with a GNVQ. He requires permission from DWP to do so - which is not a problem.

However the College will not give a fee remission because he receives Incapacity Benefit - he received such in the past because he was on short term Incapacity Benefit which was topped up with Income Support. It would appear that because of his disabilty - the additional money he receives stops him from qualifying for the reduced fees.

I have been in touch with Scope, my local benefits office and although recognise that it rather ironic the extra monies given to him to help re his disability actually hinder him.

Fellow students with children who recieve Income Support with premiums are eligible.

Does anyone know where he can possibly obtain some extra support. I myself am on Income Support and Carers Allowance so I cannot help in anyway. I had to give up work to look after him.