Glandular fever: too ill for Uni and too ill for work, only 18- what to do?

PurpleReindeer

Hello, We need help and advice please. A family member was about to go to uni, but has become ill with Glandular Fever. The doc says it's a very severe case, so patient could be seriously ill for months. As the patient has just turned 18, the council are demanding Council tax now he isn't going to University. Would he be entitled to any financial aid or benefit help?
We have tried to local CAB who were unhelpful, the tax office - who were unhelpful, and the job centre - who were also unhelpful!
Anyone have advice for us, please?:(

bestpud

Does he live alone?

Duncombe

Yes, we need some more information. Does the young person live alone? With parents? Glandular fever is not a disability, nor an illness that can be treated as such.

In that respect, the person won't be entitled to any disability benefits, and quite rightly. If he is too ill to seek work, he can't claim JSA.

I'm not sure how much help we can be.

Indie_Kid

What's he doing now?

PurpleReindeer

Ok to answer your questions - he has just finished his a-levels and about to go to uni, thus no job.
He will now be living with his parents, they can't afford to pay an extra person's council tax.
The doctor has said that he cannot go to university, and won't be able to work for at least a few months, and the only way to get better from the illness is to rest. If he overdoes it when he starts to feel better, he may relapse.
The main symptoms may be gone in 6 weeks, but the chronic fatigue apparently can last for several months if not a year, and liver/spleen/kidney complications that arise from this condition also need to be taken into account.

MrsManda

Why has the council tax bill changed if he lives with his parents?
Did they previously get a single person's discount?
He may be able to claim income based Employment Support Allowance.

Duncombe

PurpleReindeer wrote: »

Ok to answer your questions - he has just finished his a-levels and about to go to uni, thus no job.
He will now be living with his parents, they can't afford to pay an extra person's council tax.
The doctor has said that he cannot go to university, and won't be able to work for at least a few months, and the only way to get better from the illness is to rest. If he overdoes it when he starts to feel better, he may relapse.
The main symptoms may be gone in 6 weeks, but the chronic fatigue apparently can last for several months if not a year, and liver/spleen/kidney complications that arise from this condition also need to be taken into account.

An extra persons council tax? I presume he hasnt *just* turned 18, therefore any increase in him being at home would already have been accounted for. Although, it wouldn't make any difference unless his parents were on benefits and getting their CT paid for them. Is this the case?

I know a fair amount about severe glandular fever and yes, lots of fluids and rest are the only remedies. Its a virus afterall.

If he is a normally fit and healthy 18 year old then I can't imagine he would be as risk of developing the associated spleen problems, although I am aware they could develop. He would be unlucky if that were the case. Besides, that is a bridge he should cross if he comes to it.

I'm still failing to see how he would be eligible for any be benefits though. Its not a serious or life threatening illness, and will not persist for the rest of his life, or even the foreseeable future. If he does suffer from the fatigue for several months, he will be unlucky but such if life. Pregnancy can also cause extreme fatigue but you can't claim benefits for that..!

Atleast he can be assured he is very very very very unlikely to suffer from the illness again now that he has had.

Edit: I doubt very much he would qualify for ESA for glandular fever. Infact, I'd say it would be a certainty he won't.

bestpud

Even if his parents receive full council tax benefit, the deduction for an unwaged adult is fairly small.

If they don't claim benefits, how on earth will he increase their council tax?

Mojisola

Duncombe wrote: »

Yes, we need some more information. Does the young person live alone? With parents? Glandular fever is not a disability, nor an illness that can be treated as such.

In that respect, the person won't be entitled to any disability benefits, and quite rightly. If he is too ill to seek work, he can't claim JSA.

Someone is too ill to go to college or go to work. Why do you think it's good he can't claim benefits? Surely this is exactly the kind of situation that benefits are provided for?

M.E.

My daughter was in EXACTLY the same position a year ago.
Severe glandular fever (hospital for a week). She decided not to return to Uni but to postpone it for a year. She returns to Uni this week for her final year.

She took from September until March to recover, fully. She is now completely well and has been working in an opticians from April. It was undoubtably the correct decision. Glandular fever takes a long, long time to recover from. Rest, rest, rest and then rest some more.

Financially it was a strain. We were paying for her flat in the Uni town, which we were doing anyway. She was at home for three months then although still not well enough to work, she returned to the Uni town to her shared flat, to be with friends.

Council Tax... she (rather we) had to pay for the whole year. She will be applying for the exemption next week as she returns to being a student.

Council tax is on the property not the person. If he is at home with his parents there would be no additional cost UNLESS HIS PARENTS OR ONE PARENT WERE NOT PAYING COUNCIL TAX.

Benefits.. well there were none. As parents we had to look after her. Hopefully his parents will look after him. He needs to be looked after for a couple of months at least, he is ill.
If he is not contracted to pay for Uni accomodation or has been able to withdraw then that is a blessing, financially. We couldn't, so we were paying for her flat PLUS Council Tax which was not bargained for. Also we have to pay for this year as well, but that comes with being a parent.

The first thing he must do is contact the University, giving his circumstances and ask for a deferred start for next year. Medical certificates will be necessary. If he doesn't do this he will lose his place and would also be liable for this year's tuition fees.

Hope this helps and wish him well.

DanE2010

Yes definately make sure he takes time to recover, I got glandular fever in my last year of uni, I carried on regardless because I was adament I was going to finish my degree, I did so at the cost of my health in the long run as I now have M.E (oten referred as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but there is alot more to it than being tired I can tell you!) So cant help you in the way of benefit advice but the most important advice I can give you is to make sure he gives his body time to heal, I wish I did I can tell u.