ESA as a student

dominiquarose

Due my father's passing a while ago i have been put on the sick by the doctor's, i am currently employed but my last day of paid work on 16/11/13 and my first sick day was the day after. My work do not pay sick pay and i do not earn enough to get SSP (statutory sick pay)so i tried applying for ESA (Employment and support allowance) when looking on the DIRECT.GOV website i ticked all the boxes, i filled in my claim yesterday and all was fine or so i thought.... i had a phone call today to tell me because i am a full time student i am unable to claim ESA my course is a further education course and I'm in college NOT uni, i need help the only money i am getting is ALG (Adult learning grant) which is £1500 to be paid in installments throughout the year as long as i keep attending the course(bearing in mind if i miss one day as unauthorized i could lose the rest of the money) i am on my butt skint and because i am trying to better myself with getting an education and i can't have any help , can anyone help me?
P.S i cannot apply for any sort of student loans because i am in further education and not higher.

bexy_v

Have the college got any advice on this? i.e. any welfare and health people who might be able to advise or point you in the direction of support grants if there is such a thing these days. x Maybe the CAB?http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

dominiquarose

hi there, i have spoken to student fiance and unless i am pregnant or have a child(which is neither) or the course needs specialist equipment (which it doesn't) they told me there is nothing they can do, i will have a look on the CAB website now thank you.x

pmlindyloo

Is your mum receiving child benefit and child tax credits for you?

dominiquarose

no she isn't i am 20 years old she now gets nothing for me which is even more of a struggle x

Dunroamin

I'm unclear as to whether you're actually ill or not - could you clarify?

von

If you are attending a course of education for which your parent is not entitled to Child Benefit then you are treated as in advanced education and unless you are receiving Disability Living Allowance then you are do not satisfy the conditions of entitlement for Income-related ESA as a student. You obviously wouldn't be entitled to Contribution-Based ESA if you haven't worked and paid National Insurance in the relevant tax years.

Dunroamin

von wrote: »

If you are attending a course of education for which your parent is not entitled to Child Benefit then you are treated as in advanced education and unless you are receiving Disability Living Allowance then you are do not satisfy the conditions of entitlement for Income-related ESA as a student. You obviously wouldn't be entitled to Contribution-Based ESA if you haven't worked and paid National Insurance in the relevant tax years.

The OP has said very clearly that the course is FE not HE so this is non advanced education. Nobody claims child related benefits because the OP is 20.

von

Thanks Dunroamin - very helpful. OP is in full time education therefore not entitled to Income-Related ESA.