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My Daughter- just graduated.

Posted in disability but not had much response-
My Daughter (23) has just completed University. This has been very traumatic throughout as she has severe mental health problems, but she has managed to complete Uni (with a break from the third year and graduating in the 4th) with my help and support. Prior to Uni she was on ESA for her MH. She would like to work and wants to work, but has not been able to travel anywhere alone for a long time now, and is still under the GP for her MH and on 5 types of meds. My thoughts are that she needs to claim UC and PIP so that she can take work if she manages to find something that she can manage. I also feel that the fact that she has been to Uni may might the DWP refuse her ESA anyway? She is an artist so is eventually hoping to work in her field, but is trying her best to get well enough to take any job as she doesn't want to claim benefits, she wants to work. Does anyone have any thoughts as I am a single parent and don't have any additional support so could do with some opinions please? (No nastiness tho! We are trying here!) Thank you.  raumatic throughout as she has severe mental health problems, but she has managed to complete Uni (with a break from the third year and graduating in the 4th) with my help and support. Prior to Uni she was on ESA for her MH. She would like to work and wants to work, but has not been able to travel anywhere alone for a long time now, and is still under the GP for her MH and on 5 types of meds. My thoughts are that she needs to claim UC and PIP so that she can take work if she manages to find something that she can manage. I also feel that the fact that she has been to Uni may might the DWP refuse her ESA anyway? She is an artist so is eventually hoping to work in her field, but is trying her best to get well enough to take any job as she doesn't want to claim benefits, she wants to work. Does anyone have any thoughts as I am a single parent and don't have any additional support so could do with some opinions please? (No nastiness tho! We are trying here!) Thank you. 

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 12 July 2020 at 1:51PM
    If she has been at uni for 3 years she is unlikely to meet the NI contributions test for new style ESA which is contribution based and requires a full NI record for 2017-18 and 2018-19.

    Income based ESA has been replaced by UC. Students cannot claim UC so she will not be able to claim until her course is officially ended. She should get a Fit Note from her GP, if applicable, and declare her health condition when she applies. This will trigger a Work Capability Assessment (which is the same as for ESA).

    She can certainly look at PIP. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

    PS - could you edit your post so that it doesn't say the same thing twice!
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Many congratulations to your daughter for graduating after such a struggle!
  • Thank you so much! This is very useful information and much appreciated! I will edit when I can on the laptop- sorry! 
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