Taking a year out of uni for health reasons - benefits

ryan12891

Not sure if this is the right section but anyway...

I've just undergone emergancy surgery having finished my second year of university. I live away from my parents' (out of choice, not estranged or anything), so have a room in a flat that I live in all year round, save for a few days at Christmas.

Following the surgery, I've been left weak and classed as disabled, and I'm taking a year out of university, and going back to do my third year in September 2012 rather than September 2011. I was wondering what my status as a student will be if I do this? Specifically, am I able to claim anything? I'm looking to claim housing benefit, as well as disability living allowance (DLA), and income support. Depending on my health and whether I need another operation (which is likely), I may even take two years out. Technically I'm just a normal, unemployed adult that's uncapable of work. I really don't want to quit uni altogether.

MrsManda

You may be able to claim Employment Support Allowance but this depends on what your student status is.
You can claim DLA whether you're a student, working or unable to work but you must have care and/or mobility needs for at least 6 months and be expected to have those needs for a further 6 months.

If you are not counted as a student you will be liable for Council Tax though you may be able to claim council tax benefit.

thegirlintheattic

I'm sure I saw something about someone being refused benefits if they had suspended but not completely left their course, and something was also mentioned about if you had received student loan payments in that academic year, you were expected to live of them rather than benefits for the rest of the academic year. It was on the news or something.

Your best bet would be to speak to CAB or someone at the uni's disabled student service for advice.

MrsManda

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I'm sure I saw something about someone being refused benefits if they had suspended but not completely left their course

If you are still classed as a student by the university you cannot claim benefits (except in certain circumstances). But it is possible for the university to stop your student status, allowing you to claim benefits but agree to allow you back to continue your degree at the point you left when you are better. - My university did this for me in 2010/11.

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

and something was also mentioned about if you had received student loan payments in that academic year, you were expected to live of them rather than benefits for the rest of the academic year.

If you recieved the April payment of the student loan this is meant to cover you until the end of the academic year so you cannot claim benefits until the start of the new academic year.

At least, this is how the DWP explained it to me when I was applying for ESA.

Again, it may be possible to claim benefits in some situations.

continentalgal

Hi, sorry if this reads a bit long-winded, I don't know how to explain this simpler ...

I was already receiving DLA and IB when I started my degree course. There's a technicality that you don't count as student in between academic years because government funding (student loan/maintenance grant) is attributed as income for only 42 weeks during the whole year. So, for me that meant that I was eligible for Income Support during summer (= 10 weeks but you have to apply each year anew) and the weekly amount for HB went up as well.

My point here is that if you're not getting any student funding you should be eligible for all kinds of benefits according to your condition during your 'off-time' independent from whether the university expects you back or not. There's a charity for students with disabilities, called Skill and they provide loads of information concerning the claiming of benefits while being a student. They are quite knowledgeable (at least they were 2 years ago when I called them) so it's worth calling or emailing them.

Good luck!
Connie