Returning to education after illlness

hazygirl

Hello all, as this is my first post I hope you will forgive any mistakes.

My 17 year old son has been unable to attend school since 2002 due to chronic fatigue syndrome. Up until September of last year he had home tuition, but as he could not cover enough coursework to make it viable to do his GCSE exams his tuition was stopped.

From September he has been receiving income support, plus low mobility DLA which is due for renewal on his eighteenth birthday (02.09.2005).

Jonathan is now feeling a lot better and would like to go back to college at the start of next term.

My question is, will we be able to claim any benefits whilst he continues his education?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Ted_Hutchinson

There is no problem with the DLA. That should continue whether or not he returns to education with the proviso that his return to school isn't regarded as a change of circumstance that indicates his condition vis a vis the DLA mobility criteria, has improved so much he no longer qualifies. You will need to show he continues to need supervision and guidance in unfamiliar areas.

Income support cannot usually be paid to someone in "relevant education." The exceptions to this rule are pretty severe so I doubt they apply as you probably would have mentioned them.
It may be possible for you to claim Child Benefit IR Tax Credits Online for Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit. or possibly Education Maintenance Allowance