16 year old not in full time education - now what?

YORKSHIRELASS · 5 July 2015 at 7:40PM

Hi

Our 16 year old has just been awarded Enhanced Rate Daily Living and Enhanced Rate Mobility for PIP. We are having a nightmare trying to work out what he is going to do as he moves into adulthood, particularly as he has done very little education for the past 4 years.

He has no GCSEs, has learning difficulties (awaiting screening for autism), physical health problems and suffers with anxiety. To make things more difficult we live in a very rural area. Finding an apprenticeship or college course for him is proving really difficult.

I have been researching online what happens to benefits, particularly tax credits if he doesnt find anything but I am so confused.

Has anyone been through this and can give me any guidance?? Thanks.

DomRavioli · 6 July 2015 at 12:16AM

Its now a legal requirement for all children to be in education or training until their 18th Birthday rather than the 16th birthday as it was previously. I suggest you contact your local education authority for urgent advice, so you aren't fined or worse (it can happen).

I suggest you post on the benefits board for tax credits.

There are plenty of specialist schemes for young people with disabilities who are under 18 across the country. Are you engaged with social services, as they may be able to help with this.

missbiggles1 · 6 July 2015 at 12:36AM

Do you have some kind of careers advice organisation in your area as they would be the best people to advise you on this? This is the website for the National Careers Service which would be a good starting point.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

I don't know where you are in Yorkshire but I'm sure some of these organisations should be able to help or point you in the right direction if they can't.

http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/25426/SEND---preparing-for-adulthood
http://www.leedsmencap.org.uk/support-for-young-people
http://www.transitioninfonetwork.org.uk/media/1594/transition_guide_for_all_services.pdf
file:///home/chronos/u-f5843b25004e7b208e9147c6265d2866088b89a1/Downloads/Transition%20Protocol%20ER%20update%20August%202011.pdf

nodiscount · 6 July 2015 at 1:25AM

Won't the enhanced rate disability benefits make up any shortfall?

System · 6 July 2015 at 8:39AM

You could apply for ESA my daughter has been getting it since she was 16, she also was not in any training. education etc for a variety of reasons.

YORKSHIRELASS · 6 July 2015 at 5:02PM

Hi

Thanks all. This is all above board and my son is registered with the local education authority. We had to take him out of education on medical grounds on the advice of a psychologist and hospital consultant and are now finding it hard to find a college course or apprenticeship that he can actually do.

And yes the PIP is covering expenses related to his medical treatment etc but I wondered about ESA or similar and just wondered if other 16 year olds received it, so thanks ChrissyG.

Those links are helpful, thanks Missbiggles.

System · 7 July 2015 at 8:50AM

If you go down the ESA route you will need to see a doctor for a fit note and keep him covered by them until they eventually decide what group to put him in, my doctor gave my daughter a 12 week one to begin with.
She was put into the support group and gets about £250 every 2 weeks.

We tried all the usual avenues but the best one by far has been a lady from the young Adult transition team. My daughter is now 18 and this lady has done more in the 4 weeks she has been involved that all the other services put together have done over the past 2 yrs.

16 year old not in full time education - now what?

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