Studying while on Esa & Pip

mycleverbunnies

Hi
I would like some help with the above please.
I am in ESA WRAG until Feb 2019.I have 'M.E.
I've been offered a place on an NQ level 6 course.Its six months and full time although hours 9.15am - 12 and 1pm-3pm,Mon -Weds.
I went to see Citz advice who confirmed I can study full time and continue to receive ESA because I receive (care component) of PIP.
I enrol on Monday so I went into to tell my advisor at the job centre today.Advisor is the wrong word I think because she doesn't seem to know anything.
She said I 'might' need a learning agreement.Does anyone know what this is? I did ask her and she said " I don't know you just might need one."
She initially said I couldn't continue with ESA but I showed her the print out of the legislation from CPAG that citizens advice printed out for me.
Citizens advice said there will be no changes but I am worried DWP might stop my ESA without telling me.Actually I wasn't worried until the anti-advisor at the job centre didn't know anything about DWP. Do the job centre staff work for DWP ? Or is it a different company?
I just don't understand why she doesn't know their procedures if she is my esa wrag advisor.
Would you advise calling ESA helpline on Monday? I was on hold there for over 40 mins and decided I probably won't get through now.
Student services had also told me I could stay on Esa but they didn't mention a learning agreement.I will go and see them on Monday but was hoping for some advice here.Epitome seems to know a lot so am hoping they see this.Thanks for any help from anyone though.

calcotti

When you enrol you may be asked to complete a "learning agreement" with the College. DWP may simply want to see this as evidence that you have signed onto your course.

kingfisherblue

This link might help:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Full-time-students-and-benefits/Can-full-time-students-claim-disability-benefits

Alice_Holt

"I just don't understand why she doesn't know their procedures if she is my esa wrag advisor."

She is employed by the DWP, unfortunately DWP staff training can be poor. It would be a mistake to assume a job coach at the JC has an in-depth knowledge of the benefits system.

Thankfully, any decision about your ESA would come from a decision maker, who (one hopes) would be more clued up.

Not sure about a "learning agreement",
here's something from Wolverhampton College: http://www.aes.wolverhampton.gov.uk/publications//Current/Forms/1708LearningAgreement.pdf

Perhaps you College has something similar, if not as calcotti suggests just get something from the college to give to her.

mycleverbunnies

Thankyou so much for the links I'll check them out �� The course will allow me to go back to work in the healthcare industry without having to do moving & handling anymore.I am just so desperate to do it I think I overreacted- nothing has actually gone wrong yet.
I remember I do her a slight disservice because she did eventually say it should be alright because study can be counted as work related activity.