Income Support/Incapacity Benefit & College

grilli

if you're 19, there could be no limit to the hours you study. you would need to claim IB under the Youth rules if you could say you're unfit for work and have been for the last 28 weeks. Depending on wht rates of DLA you get there could then be a possibility of getting IS to top you up too.

mrskaykins

I may be able to help you here as I've suffered from ME since my mid-teens and have been through the education system (including Uni)

If your college course is classified by the institution as 'part-time' , you will be able to claim income support or incapacity benefit depending on your amount of NI contributions.

If it's 'full-time' you won't able to claim but if it's uni, you will qualify for a student loan.

I started Uni full-time and was forced to go part-time half way through my second year as I had difficulty coping. I was able to claim income support and was backdated to when I dropped out.

carouselgirl

I work as an Enrolment officer within a college this is what we allow - this may vary from college to college. Contact your local college for further information.

For funding help with fee's

Income Support - Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college) Please check if you are allowed to be in receipt of IS and studying full time. Part time would be ok.

Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit - Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)

Pension Credit Guaranteed - Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)

Job Seekers Allowance - We are aware that you are NOT supposed to study Full Time 15+ hours a week and claim JSA as you are making yourself unavailable for work BUT you can study part time = Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)

Working Tax Credit - Household Income declared less than £15,050 = Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)
Anything over this amount you would get a percentage off the full fee up to an income of £25,000 (This is probably College Specific)

There are some government funded schemes known as Level 2 and Level 3 entitlement.

Level 2 (No age restriction) is for anyone studying for their first FULL level 2 qualification course and do not hold a level 2 qualification = Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)

Level 3 (19-25 year olds currently) is for anyone studying for their first FULL level 3 qualification course and do not hold a Level 3 qualification = Tuition fee would be waived Exam fee would be payable (Though assistance may be available through student Welfare Fund - dependant on college)

16-18 year olds - Free for LSC funded course (Most courses within a Further education college)