depressed son what benefit if any ?

helen6

Hi, my 17year old son started college at the start of September, he only went for 2 Weeks before the police had to search for him as he was threatening to commit suicide. He is now on Prozac and is waiting to see a psychiatrist. Having just lost tax credits and child benefit for him is there any thing he could get. I am on incapacity benefit.

simpywimpy

you should surely still be getting those benefit if he is continuing his education. As long as he signed up for college, you need to tell the tax credits people.

If he's never worked he would be unlikely to qualify for benefits in his own right but I might be wrong.

healy

He could make a claim for IB/IS, he will need to get a sick note from his Doctor to start the process.

helen6

Thanks for the replies, but if your child goes on to a higher course your CTC and child benefit stops

Oldernotwiser

College at 17 is likely to be FE and not HE so you can still claim CTC and CB if he is still at college. If he has left you'll lose it.

[Deleted User]

helen6 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, but if your child goes on to a higher course your CTC and child benefit stops

Not so,if he is 17 i assume hes at college doing A levels or simlar,if thats the case then c/b and ctc continue,as for his present situation he needs to get a sick note from his gp then apply for incapacity benefit,he wont get it but he should get income support due to sickness,its not a fortune think its around £35 per week
When the medication starts to work and he returns to college then claim child benefit and ctc again
good luck,hope he`s soon ok

scooby1001

Has your son actually LEFT college or is he just off sick? We have just had a similar situation. Just to say first BE CAREFUL WITH PROZAC. My son was pescribed it at 17/18 and it made him VERY ANGRY and SUSIDAL. I was so worried as prozac and young adults is a well known NO NO. He has now changed to venafaxine and is much better.

My son is a college also and he has not given his course up he is off sick. He still gets all his benefits as should you unless your son has actually given up the course.

He could always claim Incapasity Benefit as he would come under the Incapasity in youth where you don't need ni contrubitions, although he would need to submit sicknotes and maybe go to a medical. You could only do that if he has given up his college course and is not going back.

Amethyst1978

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear your son is ill.

At the moment he can claim Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. As woodbine said, he probably wont qualify for Incapacity Benefit as he wont have paid enough National Insurance contributions, but should qualify for Income Support. He does have to claim both.

He would need a medical cerificate from your GP and would be asked to attend a medical at some point in the future.

At the end of October, IS and IB will be replaced by Employment Support Allowance, which is similar.

I have attached a link to a really helpful website that explains the Medical Process and also explains all the benefits in detail.
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Hope it helps. x

Penny-Pincher!!

helen6 wrote: »

Hi, my 17year old son started college at the start of September, he only went for 2 Weeks before the police had to search for him as he was threatening to commit suicide. He is now on Prozac and is waiting to see a psychiatrist. Having just lost tax credits and child benefit for him is there any thing he could get. I am on incapacity benefit.

If he needs to be supervised due to a possibility of suicide, then he may qualify for DLA with MH problems if he has needed supervison for more than 3 months.

HTH

PP
xx

xxlaurissaxx

Hi im sorry i dont know anything about IS/IB but im 99% sure if you son is in higher education he will be entitled to the EMA which veries from £10 to £30 per week and its usually calculated on parents income and as you are on benefits he should get the £30 per week. HTH

Lx

ikkle87

Laurissa, EMA won't be applicable as it is based on attendance and if he is not attending college he will not receive it.