Is he entitled to anything?

heretolearn_2

Hi

My son has had to take an 'interruption' from his degree course due to ill health. He won't start studying again until January 2012. He lives in a student house quite a long way from home, doesn't want to come home and lose his place there/connection with uni. He is 23.

Seems to be stuck with no income. He isn't getting student loan for this period as he isn't actually studying. He's been told he can't claim JSA as he is still registered as a student.

He's managed to find a part-time job but only a few hours a week, not enough to pay the bills, and struggled for months to find something else. Even resorted to 'chugging' before Xmas out of desperation, but that's come to an end now.

Can anyone help with any advice? Can he get any type of benefits? He is under the doctor/hospital long-term if that helps...

[Deleted User]

esa might be an option if he gets a sick note from his gp
(esa is the new incapacity benefit,sick notes are now known as fit notes)

RAS

Hi

This happens all the time. He needs to talk to the University and they will withdraw him from the course, so that technicaly he is not a student and can claim JSA/Income Support and Housing help plus CTB. he then signs back on at university next year.

Oldernotwiser

RAS wrote: »

Hi

This happens all the time. He needs to talk to the University and they will withdraw him from the course, so that technicaly he is not a student and can claim JSA/Income Support and Housing help plus CTB. he then signs back on at university next year.

This might not be a good idea with the fee increases in 2012. I'm not sure but it should certainly be checked out.

OP, sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but if your son is sharing a house with students, he'll be responsible for the whole of the council tax with only the 25% discount.

RAS

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This might not be a good idea with the fee increases in 2012. I'm not sure but it should certainly be checked out.

OP, sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but if your son is sharing a house with students, he'll be responsible for the whole of the council tax with only the 25% discount.

If he returns in January 2012, that will be on the 2011/12 fees structure not the 2012/13 new fee system.

MrsManda

If he withdraws from his course he'll be able to claim JSA or ESA if he's too ill to work. But as ONW said, he's going to be liable for the council tax bill of the house he lives in if he's the only non-student in the house. He may be able to claim CTB to cover it but I'm unsure

AsknAnswer2

Not related to the benefits query but I'm intrigued to know what "chugging" is! From where I come from it is a vulgar term for a man, erm, "self loving"

RAS

Charity mugging - those people in tabards trying to get you to sign up for DDs. Generally a pretty horrid job IMO.

heretolearn_2

Looks bad then, he doesn't want to withdraw from the course as it complicates starting up again - he wouldn't even be guaranteed a place.

:-(

MrsManda

heretolearn wrote: »

Looks bad then, he doesn't want to withdraw from the course as it complicates starting up again - he wouldn't even be guaranteed a place.

:-(

Can he not get a formal unlimited interruption without attendance?
To all intents and purposes this means he's no longer a student therefore can claim benefits but has to pay council tax. Yet it means that his university agrees to let him reregister to continue his studies when he is fully recovered from his illness.

HappyMJ

MrsManda wrote: »

If he withdraws from his course he'll be able to claim JSA or ESA if he's too ill to work. But as ONW said, he's going to be liable for the council tax bill of the house he lives in if he's the only non-student in the house. He may be able to claim CTB to cover it but I'm unsure

Why would he be liable for council tax if he has no income? Confused... I am not a student and don't pay CT based on my low (non-existant) income. Would he as a non-student also be entitled to the shared room rate of Housing Benefit?