UC questions for child who's been kicked out of uni

Midnight_Tboy

Hi,

Long story short, my son returned from "uni" over xmas.  I discovered yesterday (not voluntary - saw a letter!!) that my son had been kicked out of uni mid November, in his 2nd year of study.  I believe for non attendance.  It is apparently under appeal but he said he's effectively being blanked by the uni.  Apparently the appeals process takes some time, but in honesty and not knowing the full details and truth, I can't see if they were that fast to suspend so early in the academic year that they would let back after xx weeks or 2-3months of an appeals process without medical evidence etc.

Sooooooo, its been a fun 2 days of drama(!)  And we have the issue of his private accommodation as soon as possible to find a replacement for too, as we are his guarantor etc to cover his rent, and SLC will be clawing back loans etc at some point

Anyways, so discussions made, we'll still need to travel to his Uni city etc to get his belongings and so on, but I need to encourage him to finally pull his finger out as his final chance and look for work.  I've today just filled in with him the UC application form.  On the offchance his appeal is successful then we can cancel the claim maybe (but with strong words of is it right to continue or you withdraw now before it gets worse)

Does anyone know how long it may likely take over this xmas weeks etc for them to ask him to come into the job centre?  As we're going to have to coordinate somehow us getting to where he lives and so on too to retrieve belongings aswelll as maybe extra back and forths too, aswell as juggling my own work and health issues

From what I gather, a phone call is the next step, and then expect they'll then set a date for him to come into the local JC for his first official meeting

It has been many many years (early to mid 00s) that I was at a JC for myself, where we used to have to write on paper what we'd applied for etc, I see its all app based now and expected 35hours a week etc.  I think this is all frightening him (and us with the extra knock on consequences its having), and while I think its sad, I really hope its the kick he needs to finally look for a job with seriousness!!

I do wonder though, how each week they verify 35hrs has been spent?  As to be honest that seems daunting even to me by way of actual hunting time.  It makes me wonder how many genuine people who look for work a lot though but dont "fill the system" in to satisfaction get sanctioned and run down due to not writing enough things on the app, vs those that are clearly on benefits but do the bare minimum and at the pub most of the day (using the extreme examples)

I think from back in my day it used to be something like 5 minimum jobs were expected to be applied for, and they would spot check random ones occasionally to check they had been applied for

Brie

All I know is that it's normally online now in a "journal" where he can update things and they will respond.  This is after the initial meetings.  

Midnight_Tboy

Brie said:

All I know is that it's normally online now in a "journal" where he can update things and they will respond.  This is after the initial meetings.  

Thanks, I'm assuming they still have to attend face to face the JC regularly, even if the workcoach updates notes via his journal etc

We've submitted the application, using my home, which is his official address, however he still is down as a tenant of the student property until we find someone to replace his spot (the sooner the better I hope else it comes out of our pocket as guarantors each month!!).  One complexity is the to and fro'ing that may happen while trying to appeal, as may have to travel back and forth to Uni to discuss with people (if thats really what he wants to do - personally I think he should call it quits now before each year of student fees etc rise even more... IF he even has that chance that is)

Full time worker myself (though I was hoping to retire early soon due to ill health but depending on this situation I may not be able to now cos of guarantor payments etc), however I have over 16k savings myself, so dont believe that for example council tax could be paid for under his name if I'm reading the rules correctly, as 3 adults (mother, father, him) + 1disabled child

I truly hope he's learnt from this and bucks his ideas up, however there was another serious debt incident early in the year (wont go into it for this but you're talking blowing entire student loan in matter of days on a "free" game), that while he's academically intelligent, theres something missing.....I think ADHD personally

sigh.....anyways, thanks for any advice, just trying to get in my head a picture of whats to come

M25

If he needs financial help that's fine he's your adult son but if you do EVERYTHING he'll do nothing (like he's been doing) and you'll get no peace. It's likely to be all-consuming for you too if he doesn't help himself.

Let him sort the collection of the belongings and UC claim himself as much as possible. He can learn from that even if he has ADHD.

Helping him a little less will actually be good for him in the long term.

As for his relationship with the university that will likely remain private but I'm sure he's had a lot of help and guidance from them.

Is he well enough to work? UC will need to know if not and maybe he can see his GP and tell him of his problems and get a sick note for a period until things settle or at least look into the possibility of ADHD.

Good luck with everything.

marcia_

M25 said:

If he needs financial help that's fine he's your adult son but if you do EVERYTHING he'll do nothing (like he's been doing) and you'll get no peace. It's likely to be all-consuming for you too if he doesn't help himself.

Let him sort the collection of the belongings and UC claim himself as much as possible. He can learn from that even if he has ADHD.

Helping him a little less will actually be good for him in the long term.

As for his relationship with the university that will likely remain private but I'm sure he's had a lot of help and guidance from them.

Is he well enough to work? UC will need to know if not and maybe he can see his GP and tell him of his problems and get a sick note for a period until things settle or at least look into the possibility of ADHD.

Good luck with everything.

 Agree with this. Your son's ADHD doesn't make him incapable it just means he needs direction and encouragement not doing it all for him. It's Important that he takes responsibility for his actions and sorts his mess out be it with a little support. 

Emmia

marcia_ said:

M25 said:

If he needs financial help that's fine he's your adult son but if you do EVERYTHING he'll do nothing (like he's been doing) and you'll get no peace. It's likely to be all-consuming for you too if he doesn't help himself.

Let him sort the collection of the belongings and UC claim himself as much as possible. He can learn from that even if he has ADHD.

Helping him a little less will actually be good for him in the long term.

As for his relationship with the university that will likely remain private but I'm sure he's had a lot of help and guidance from them.

Is he well enough to work? UC will need to know if not and maybe he can see his GP and tell him of his problems and get a sick note for a period until things settle or at least look into the possibility of ADHD.

Good luck with everything.

 Agree with this. Your son's ADHD doesn't make him incapable it just means he needs direction and encouragement not doing it all for him. It's Important that he takes responsibility for his actions and sorts his mess out be it with a little support. 

Absolutely agree, I also think it would be a shame to waste the work he's done in his first year at Uni, perhaps he might consider returning to study part time through the OU (for example) in the next few years.

TheShape

OP, is your son still registered on his course?

I believe (a check of legislation/guidance might be needed to be sure) that your son may not be eligible for UC while still registered on the course and may need to have formally withdrawn from the course before being eligible.

Universal Credit Regulations: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/part/2/crossheading/receiving-education

born_again

OP also has another thread on same subject

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6576271/private-student-accommodation-guarantor-done-yearly-child-has-since-been-suspended-panicking#latest

peteuk

born_again said:

OP also has another thread on same subject

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6576271/private-student-accommodation-guarantor-done-yearly-child-has-since-been-suspended-panicking#latest

Other post is about accommodation from what I can see! 

silvercar

In order to get the room at uni taken over as soon as possible, his stuff will need to be retrieved, so this needs some sort of priority,

he needs to surrender the tenancy asap, to avoid a council tax bill as a non student. Though in all likelihood the exemption will already have been granted, you don’t want it rescinded and him be liable for the council tax on the whole property as the only non student.

Midnight_Tboy

TheShape said:

OP, is your son still registered on his course?

I believe (a check of legislation/guidance might be needed to be sure) that your son may not be eligible for UC while still registered on the course and may need to have formally withdrawn from the course before being eligible.

Universal Credit Regulations: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/part/2/crossheading/receiving-education

Thank you all, apologies for the delay, obv its been fairly hectic, UC claim started in meantime, still trying to find someone to fill his place at the privately rented student house, but that prob would be end up being end of jan or feb I guess (he WILL be paying me back everything I spend having to guarantor that time!!  I've not seen any letters officially from the uni, only the SLC letter, but from what son said as I've just asked him on seeing this is "They said I was withdrawn", so hopefully that means it is.

In my head too, if they say he's withdrawn, then I'm assuming he's beyond the chance of any appeal as that sounds final too (to be honest part of me thinks its best he's kicked out now and not another year of built up debt later......but thats just cos right now I have zero trust for him, we also had issues early this year of him blowing all his money, several K, in a matter of days on a free to play game, there's definitely something wrong with his brain.....but we'll save that for another time.  Things are slowly calming, but yes lots to sort over the coming days, thank you all again