Access to work vs Disability studentallowance- travel in London

hello007007

Hi

My son is very shy and quiet. He spends most of his time in his room and was bullied in the past. He doesn't like to mix with people due to his anxiety issues/social phobia and doesn't like to leave home.

He is having a hard time adjusting to adult life. He has been offered an apprenticeship in London but we are worried he may not be able to cope on the trains. He has good days and bad days with his mental health.

Before the apprenticeship, he was considering university and the disability student allowance said they would partly help with accommodation costs so he was closer to his university and it would make it much more easier for him cope.

Would access to work help in a similar way, with accommodation closer to his apprenticeship which would easy the pressure of travelling? I believe access to work can help with taxis but the journey will be much longer than if he went by train.

Also, I was hoping to hear from anyone who suffers from anxiety and social phobia, how do you cope on journeys and the train.

He has to learn ways to help him become independent now that he is out of school. He is finding it very hard.

Savvy_Sue

Access to Work factsheet

I can't see any mention of accommodation there, but I have only skimmed it. 

What support does he have outside family? What does he think might help? Would doing the journey with someone else be a way to start? He may not find it hard to cope: my memories of commuting are that yes, it was busy, but actual interaction with other people was kept to a minimum ... 

Is it possible - and I mean this very gently - that some of your anxiety could be transferred to him? 

Jillanddy

Accommodation is a living expense, not a work expense, so they wouldn't pay for or contribute to that. Students living in temporary housing away from home is considered a norm and the support is for the student, whereas employers paying for housing isn't the norm and Access to Work is about supporting the employer to meet an employees needs. 

It might be worth talking to a charity such as MIND or Scope about whether they could suggest anything. I doubt very much that you would be getting any money for living costs, but there may be other ways of thinking about this or helping him to prepare. Numerous schemes exist to advise and help disabled people to enter and sustain employment, or there may be supported housing (especially in London) that might be available. I think considering a a range of options would be important - if his social phobia is that pronounced, for example, would living somewhere on his own with little to no social contact actually be a good answer?