Would my 18yo be entitled to claim anything?

jackieb

My son is almost 19yo and lives at home. He has dyspraxia and ADD. His college course finished in June and he was going to apply for a course to start in September but he didn't. He recently went to the doctor (he has to go back on the 21st) and she thinks he's suffering with depression and he'll probably need to see a psychiatrist. He also has a firework phobia and won't go out the door for about 6 weeks in the run up to Bonfire night. He's been like this since he was at school.

When he was at college we got child benefit for him but that's now stopped. Is there anything he would be entitled to claim? We haven't claimed benefits, apart from a few weeks in the 80's, so we don't know where to start. I know he wants to get back on his feet, but at the moment he can't. He wants to get a supermarket job in the meantime and re-apply to college next year. He can't do it just now though because of how he's feeling. I know he's not swinging the lead - he is ill.

I'd much rather he got better than claim benefits but it does cost to keep him, even though he doesn't go out. He doesn't want to claim anything either, but now we have to pay for his prescriptions, and there's not even the child benefit to cover it.

And does it matter that he stays at home with us? Does my dh's salary affect his claim? He wouldn't need a lot of money each week, just enough to cover his basic expenses. We don't want to make a profit from him being ill. We just want to see him better.

anewman

IMO best thing to help him with his depression would be to do the college course. I know I tend to feel more depressed when at home doing nothing, especially for long periods. It could be just the time spent at home since june. All psychiatrists can do really is prescribe drugs. If seeking some sort of therapeutic/non-drug assistance need to get a referal to see a psychologist.

If available for and seeking work -> job seekers allowance.

If unable to work due to medical reasons -> sick note from doctor -> incapacity benefit (income support).

There may also be further help out there. This may help

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/index.htm

He may be able to get EMA if he studied at college

http://ema.direct.gov.uk/ema.html

Hopefully some more knowledgeable people here than me will be able to give more precise assistance.

Hope everything works out and best of luck with everything.

jackieb

Thanks. I know college would be best for him. He's just fell ill since his last course stopped in June. But as he's been feeling so bad he didn't apply in time for his course, so he won't get in this year anyhow. College starts in just over a week. And even if he had got in, at the moment he just couldn't go. He won't even open his bedroom window right now, never mind go out.

He won't get an EMA if he goes back to college, as my dh earns too much for him to claim that. Last year he got travelling expenses and we got child benefit, which was fine.

anewman

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_10034898 (Disabled Students Allowance) may also be of interest but I'm not sure whether this is just for degree courses or not. It isn't dependant on income.