entitled to any help?

londongirl1984

Hi all

I'm wondering if anyone can help, I'm really worried for my mum.

She used to work up until a few weeks ago when she had to resign from her part time job. She then signed up for jobseekers allowance, but has since been told that she's ineligible because she's a student. She's only part time, but had hoped to go full time in October, so she put full time on the form. Because she's not entitled to JSA, she's been told she's not entitled to housing benefit either. Her council tax has now gone to court and she has to pay around £200 by July. She's also been told that she owes £600 to her uni for her half of the tuition fees that she needs to pay by September. This has all happened in the last week or so, and I can tell she's feeling depressed, and i'm really worried because I cant really do anything to help. I live with my OH and I'm not really in a position to help seeing as both me and my OH are struggling to get back on our feet after the expense of moving into a new home this year.

Please can someone help/advise if she's entitled to anything at all? At the moment theres no money to pay rent or bills or even get food and i'm beyond worried. I will tell her to speak to CAB when I speak to her in a few minutes but any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks

kizzy2010

do you know why she had to resign her job. i know there are rules about voluntarily leaving work and then trying to sign on but it depends why she left, illness/accident....?

[Deleted User]

At what level is she studying? If she is in Uni has she applied to student finance?

pento

_shel wrote: »

At what level is she studying? If she is in Uni has she applied to student finance?

A follow on from this. If she is at Uni then tell her to speak to the Student Finance support team. As she is on a low/no income there are a number of grants that she could apply for. Also in regards to her tuition fees these she can postpone paying until she finishes her course.

Best to speak to her actual uni and ask for guidance, but most places wont chase you for the money until you graduate. At which point they will only let you graduate and get a certificate once you pay them everything you owe (tuition fees, library fines, halls rent).

Also, you mention as shes not entitled to JSA that she can't get housing benefit either. I don't think this is correct. My JobCentre told me that I can't get JSA either but that I might get housing benefit or help with council tax. Need to apply for that separately.