Back on the ESA merry-go-round

princessdon

I think OP you hit the nail on the head with your post ^^ (sorry on phone so hard to copy and paste).

The one where you said - I'll tell them how it is, how Uni is different and take what comes as a result.

That is all anyone can do - That is why I said a few times - I guess if ESA would continue would depend pretty much on what your reasons were for ESA.

I didn't know though about the HB and underlying ESA for those with DLA so that is very good to know to help others!


And actually despite you saying this wasn't a benefits entitlement thread - in the end it kind of was as knowing you could get HB if worst came to worse with ESA has clearly given you peace of mind, a good plan B and all in all, I'd say you feel pretty good right now and looking forward to the future.


but nit picking here (because I know it was the "evolution of the thread" if you had posted and asked about HB whilst on disability I bet those more knowledgeable than me - I post mainly on college/study threads as this is what I know more of) I bet they'd have answered you in a nano second.

Anyway - good luck - Here's to graduating very soon and I hope it all works out for you!

DepressedInsomniac

Thanks Princessdon :A

You've offered some very relevant advice on this thread and I thank you for that. I guess the thread did evolve somewhat towards benefits in the latter discussions when I became aware of certain rules I had no previous knowledge of. It would have been nice if the so-called *experts* here could have enlightened me but they came via my own further research, which I then followed up by contacting the relevant departments

It would delight me to know that my thread could help others in a similar situation as there's very little help or information out there for disabled students. I've spent months researching this

princessdon

They would have replied if that was the question asked

Eg "Do I get HB if a FT student claming WRAG ESA"

There are some posters who know HB rules inside and out and give really amazing advice. They would have saw ESA (not their speciality, the HE issues and ignored the thread)

Eg Dunaroamin and myself are both in the "education sector" - so reply based on that and our knowledge - and regardless of your feeling about that poster they DO give excellent advice for students especially with OU - their advice and knowledge is remarkable.

As I said - I knew PT students still got HB but not FT if they have DLA so that is fantastic advice for me in Real Life as I have many students with MHI who have probably been put off going to Uni due to the same situation you faced. I can now advise them to contact HB and to take guidance, I have a few in mind to chat with over the next month or so!.

This will be very good information for them (I just wish I knew it earlier) but my job isn't benefits - it's education and allowing everyone to gain life long learning and to use this as a route out of benefits and into gainful employment, which is something I think everyone should be able to do and I genuinely see education as a way of coming off benefits.

DepressedInsomniac

I think the HB rule is the most valuable to have come out of this thread and is one I was previously unaware of, hence my initial fears. I don't want to play the blame game, it's not my style, just hope we can all learn from it and move on (hopefully more educated) and I certainly bear no grudges

DepressedInsomniac

princessdon wrote: »

They would have replied if that was the question asked

Eg "Do I get HB if a FT student claming WRAG ESA"

Just re-read this again and I think you've completely misunderstood the HB situation. There was never a question of whether I would get HB as a student on ESA, hence not having a need to ask the question. Yes, disabled students and single parents or parents where both are full-time students are entitled to claim HB whilst at university. That information is freely available to everyone and easily found on the direct.gov website or student finance website.

What I didn't know until I contacted the housing department was whether I would be able to continue claiming HB if I lost entitlement to ESA. My understanding was that benefits such as ESA, IS and JSA were trigger benefits for HB and without them you couldn't claim.

But, as I also claim DLA then I have an underlying disability premium entitlement and this allows me to continue claiming HB. It has absolutely nothing to do with being a student. Anyone claiming DLA would have the same entitlement and don't need to be claiming one of the passport benefits to qualify.

earthbound_misfit

When does your DLA award end? Just thinking cos they introduce PIP in April for new claims or reassessments. They are also going to reassess a "random sample" of DLA claimants, apparently... not sure where I read that, but the benefit changes are here: http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes/benefit_changes.aspx?page=16619
Just thinking it's worth trying to get the ESA in case...

DepressedInsomniac

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

When does your DLA award end? Just thinking cos they introduce PIP in April for new claims or reassessments. They are also going to reassess a "random sample" of DLA claimants, apparently... not sure where I read that, but the benefit changes are here: http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes/benefit_changes.aspx?page=16619
Just thinking it's worth trying to get the ESA in case...

My current DLA claim was awarded indefinitely, so who knows when they might decide to review it under the PIP assessments. If they take as long as it took to switch me from IB to ESA then I'll be waiting another 4 years. It's not something I can afford to worry about at the moment. I'll just have to deal with it when the time comes and hope that I might already have graduated by then as it would definitely have a severe impact on my ability to remain in university.

I'm not sure whether you read my earlier posts but it seems students on ESA are automatically found to have limited capacity for work so it appears that I'll be ok after all. Well, as long as they're happy with what I write on the forms.

Sparklebabey

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

quivering mess on the floor, reaching for the stanley blade.

Is there any need for this? Really? It all seems a bit dramalama to me.

So no one would have known if you had done it but you felt the need to share that you didn't do it??

You should have said at the start you were just wanting fluffy bunny replies that everything was going to be okay...it would have been lies obviously as people have to ask questions to make sure they are giving the correct advice. And it sure would have halted your acidic replies to people.

And yes, I do think Uni is a luxury. I would dearly love to go to Uni but sadly the Government won't put their hand in their pocket to pay my mortgage.

princessdon

I have to pay £18K to do my MA in social work - plus I get zero financial help to pay my mortgage, bills, childcare.

I have to work 2 jobs, even though I am not in the best of health (hope to be soon), could easily fit into ESA descriptors to save up the money to go.

So yes for some, it is certainly a luxury, but I guess for me I had my bite and the cherry when I did my degree and so wishing to retrain is costing me heavily.

Sparklebabey

princessdon wrote: »

I have to pay £18K to do my MA in social work - plus I get zero financial help to pay my mortgage, bills, childcare.

I have to work 2 jobs, even though I am not in the best of health (hope to be soon), could easily fit into ESA descriptors to save up the money to go.

So yes for some, it is certainly a luxury, but I guess for me I had my bite and the cherry when I did my degree and so wishing to retrain is costing me heavily.

And I commend you very much. Good luck with your course and with your health.