Help for Student Son

Nomek

Hi

My son (20) is being passed from pillar to post so I am hoping someone here can help.

He was in his second year at Uni and due to health reasons his grades were not that good. After speaking to his course advisor about his concerns, they advised him to suspend his course and restart the year in September. So as from April as far as the Uni are concerned he is not a student and he was not entitled to Student Finance.

He originally tried to apply for JSA, but the system bugged out and he had to reapply. They then closed the case as they said they didn't receive the paperwork (He had handed it in) and due to various reasons beyond his control he had to apply another 5 times in total and in the end they said he wasn't eligible as he was a student.

He was then advised to apply for ESA because he had suspended his course due to health reasons. He has now been told that that they have closed the case because he is still a student and was told to apply for Income Support.

He contacted Benefit Enquiries and they told him to contact JSA and ask for an "Arbitary Reconsideration".

He called JSA again who refused because "it'd just fail anyway" so back to square one.

He has no money to live on but was able to get a community support grant from the council for food.

Surely he should be able to claim for some kind of benefit until he restarts Uni in September? Can anyone help or advise?

Thanks in advance

GwylimT

My son had something similar in his first year, he badly broke his ankle and lots of physio meant he couldn't attend his placement, he suspended the rest of that year, however he was still a student as he course was suspended, he hadn't ended his studies.

Nomek

Thanks for replying GwylimT.

Was he able to claim anything? If not, how was he able to live?

Oh and I should have added that he doesn't live with us. He is in private rented accommodation and we are unable to support him financial ourselves

Poppie68

Do is health problems stop him from working? Maybe he could get himself a part-time job..Or maybe the answer is he needs to move back home as i'm sure the stress of having to rely on community support grants will be an added worry and detrimental to his health.

Nomek

Hi Poppie,

He is looking for a job but not found anything at the moment.

He has a contract for the property he is currently in until the end of June, but is applying for Housing Benefit for that but even with that he still neds to pay for food and bills etc.

He is thinking of moving back here until September, but we are also struggling financially so he doesn't want to put an extra strain on us as well.

Considering he is an independent, I would have thought there was something he can claim as there are government minimum living amounts?

SJI85

Nomek wrote: »

Hi

My son (20) is being passed from pillar to post so I am hoping someone here can help.

He was in his second year at Uni and due to health reasons his grades were not that good. After speaking to his course advisor about his concerns, they advised him to suspend his course and restart the year in September. So as from April as far as the Uni are concerned he is not a student and he was not entitled to Student Finance.

He originally tried to apply for JSA, but the system bugged out and he had to reapply. They then closed the case as they said they didn't receive the paperwork (He had handed it in) and due to various reasons beyond his control he had to apply another 5 times in total and in the end they said he wasn't eligible as he was a student.

He was then advised to apply for ESA because he had suspended his course due to health reasons. He has now been told that that they have closed the case because he is still a student and was told to apply for Income Support.

He contacted Benefit Enquiries and they told him to contact JSA and ask for an "Arbitary Reconsideration".

He called JSA again who refused because "it'd just fail anyway" so back to square one.

He has no money to live on but was able to get a community support grant from the council for food.

Surely he should be able to claim for some kind of benefit until he restarts Uni in September? Can anyone help or advise?

Thanks in advance

He should be entitled to JSA or ESA. By the sounds of it he's suspended his studies, so he is not receiving Student Finance payments for the remainder of this academic year (the final payment which will cover him for the final term and holidays). DWP/the Jobcentre don't know what they are doing.

When I took time out of my degree due to health/personal reasons I was allowed to apply for JSA. There was some confusion at first when I started my claim, and I was told to come back later. When I came back I was told that as I was suspending my studies for health reasons I could still claim JSA.

If he's attending the institution full time, or even if he isn't attending but still receives full student finance, I can understand why he isn't allowed to claim. But as far as I'm concerned he should be allowed to claim either JSA or ESA until he gets a job/returns to university.

He should also be able to claim Housing Benefit until he resumes his studies. If he receives income-based JSA or ESA he will be automatically entitled to maximum Housing Benefit support.

Edit: - My situation was in 2007/2008, so a few years ago now, but I don't think the rules have changed. As you say, how is your son expected to meet basic living costs?

tomtontom

SJI85 wrote: »

He should be entitled to JSA or ESA. By the sounds of it he's suspended his studies, so he is not receiving Student Finance payments for the remainder of this academic year (the final payment which will cover him for the final term and holidays). DWP/the Jobcentre don't know what they are doing.

When I took time out of my degree due to health/personal reasons I was allowed to apply for JSA. There was some confusion at first when I started my claim, and I was told to come back later. When I came back I was told that as I was suspending my studies for health reasons I could still claim JSA.

If he's attending the institution full time, or even if he isn't attending but still receives full student finance, I can understand why he isn't allowed to claim. But as far as I'm concerned he should be allowed to claim either JSA or ESA until he gets a job/returns to university.

He should also be able to claim Housing Benefit until he resumes his studies. If he receives income-based JSA or ESA he will be automatically entitled to maximum Housing Benefit support.

Edit: - My situation was in 2007/2008, so a few years ago now, but I don't think the rules have changed. As you say, how is your son expected to meet basic living costs?

This is mostly wrong. The only way he can claim JSA is if he completely withdraws from the course, not just suspends his studies. The same applies for ESA, unless he is in receipt of DLA or PIP in which case he can claim ESA. Also he will not be eligible for HB unless he is in receipt of DLA or another qualifying benefit.

Nomek

TomtonTom, this is basically what he is being told by some but others say he should be entitled to JSA?

Do you know what benefit he is entitled to?

tomtontom

Nomek wrote: »

TomtonTom, this is basically what he is being told by some but others say he should be entitled to JSA?

Do you know what benefit he is entitled to?

If he has not withdrawn from the course and he is not entitled to PIP or DLA then I cannot think of any. It is a gap in the system, all I can suggest is that you contact your MP, but that won't get anything changed in the short term.

Nomek

Thanks tomtontom.

That is a huge gap in the system IMHO as I am sure there are lots of students in a similar position

tomtontom

Has he spoken to student support? In limited circumstances it is still possible to claim student finance whilst your studies are suspended, and there is also the Access to Learning Fund, although I expect their funds are low at this time of year. Worth asking?