Bipolar daughter entitled to JSA whilst in further education?

mam75

Hello everyone

Please be kind as I am new/possibly asking a stupid question.

My 18 year old daughter is Bipolar and suffering from an acute anxiety disorder. She had a severe mental health crisis whilst in year 12 studying for her IB and after being hospitalised several times was diagnosed as Bipolar last November whilst in year 13. Due to her illness and several attempts to find her a good combination of medication she deferred her studies to September of this year.

My question is whether she is still entitled to ESA which she has been receiving since last November when she left school temporarily. She currently has a claim being processed for PIP but doesnt know if she will qualify at present.

Problems I foresee: I don't want to stop ESA and then have the hastle of reapplying if, when my daughter returns to school full time she is unable to cope and has to leave again! This is a real possibility as she has not been able to do much due to medication and anxiety.

She will definitely be unable to work as well as do her schooling as she is often so exhausted due to meds and depression or unable to function due to mania.

She will not be talked out of returning to school as she really wants to go to uni next Sept and ultimately WANTS to find a good job.

Hope this all makes some sense! Thank you for your patience in reading this long post.

Indie_Kid

Is the course full time or part time?

DomRavioli

She may be able to carry on claiming ESA, but it will depend on a lot of things - best thing to do is ask at the welfare office at college/sixth form/school - they will have most up to date information for her course and her individual circumstances. Should be able to speak to them over the phone.

missbiggles1

Does she also claim DLA?

mam75

Thanks for your replies.

The course is full time, as she plans to attend school every day although she does have some free periods in this timetable.

She did not claim DLA as she was not sure how long she would be unable to do anything. She kept hoping she would be able to get back into school, kept trying to attend and then withdrawing due to anxiety attacks and depression that made her unable to get out of bed for days! It has taken her months to come to terms with her diagnosis and the limitations imposed by it.

She has been receiving a doctors certificate every 3 months to say she is unfit for work.

Thank you everyone:)

rogerblack

mam75 wrote: »

She did not claim DLA as she was not sure how long she would be unable to do anything. She kept hoping she would be able to get back into school, kept trying to attend and then withdrawing due to anxiety attacks and depression that made her unable to get out of bed for days! It has taken her months to come to terms with her diagnosis and the limitations imposed by it.

My understanding is that if she does not claim DLA - there is no possibility of her claiming ESA while on a nominally 'full time' course.
Even during periods she can't cope with the course, and has temporarily withdrawn, she can't claim.

Indie_Kid

rogerblack wrote: »

My understanding is that if she does not claim DLA - there is no possibility of her claiming ESA while on a nominally 'full time' course.

This is my understanding too.

OP - are you entitled to any child benefits / tax credits?

mam75

Thank you again

Just to clarify, even though her application for P.I.P is being processed at the moment (As DLA no longer exists) she has to stop claiming ESA when she returns to school and then reapply if she qualifies for PIP payment or if she drops out of school again due to illness.

Thanks for your replies

I can claim Child benefit if she returns to full time education but do not qualify for tax credits

sportsarb

The claim doesn't have to stop, as such, it just won't be payable. She can still get her credits paid.

Then the claim will be payable again from date of PIP award.

arcon5

I hope somebody in FT education unable or unwilling to find employment would not qualify for a job seekers related benefit