Advice needed please re my son's Benefit entitlements

booklover

Hello everyone :hello:

I would really appreciate some advice about my son's benefit entitlements. He has just turned 17 and is in receipt of DLA, Higher Rate Care and Lower rate Mobility ( for the last few years). :question:

He should be doing his GCSEs at present but has been unable to attend school for the last three months due to ill health. He has missed a lot of school due to his decline in health... His health has deteriorated considerably over the last 6 months (severe migraine, depression and insomnia).

Anyway, I was wondering do you think he might be able to apply for any benefits eg (JSA/ IB/IS etc) I don't really have much knowledge of the Benefit system.

He would like to try to go to college to do some GCSEs but in the meantime would like to try and maybe get a part-time job in a shop for 15 hours per week if his health starts to improve.

Thanks so much in advance for your help...It is a very stressful and upsetting situation. :huh:

booklover

dmg24

Is he still registered as being at school full time, and are you receiving child benefit etc for him?

booklover

dmg yes he is and I'm still getting CB for him..

stuckonthephonewithidiots

If your son leaves full time education and does not attend a registered course ie: college, you may lose child benefit if he starts work. If he leaves education and does not work he can apply for dla himself ...
if he attends college he can apply for ema...this is a payment of £30 per week ...a government initiative to get kids into further education....it would be paid directly to him and would not affect the child benefit you get for him. Job seekers allowance is what is says ..money because you are searching for a job.

stuckonthephonewithidiots

P.S
Your son will find that the student support services in colleges are far better these days than they ever have been. They help with a whole manner of things...from finances to one to one councelling...it is well worth his while visiting his local college to find out about their support network. If he feels nervous about going back into education they will ease his fears. My daughter was in the same situation but is now thriving...please get him to go along...college was the best answer for my daughter.

dmg24

I doubt that he will be able to claim anything until the official end of the academic year, as he is still officially enrolled at school.

Once he is not in FTE, he/ you will need to assess whether he wishes to go to college (and if so, on a FT or PT basis), or if he is too unwell and needs to claim Incapacity.

If he wishes to claim Incapacity, he may have a valid claim under the special rules for those that have not accrued sufficient NI Contributions due to age.

There is more information on IB here.

booklover

Thanks everyone for your advice and support; it is very much appreciated. :A

I have been very depressed about his situation as there seems to be little hope of things improving... Unfortunately his school has not been very helpful and I am really sad that he hasn't been able to do any exams.

He was actually supposed to sit his GCSEs last year but was too ill..and we had hoped that this year would be different. :rolleyes2

He stated that he definitely want to continue with his education and I do certainty hope that college/local tech will be supportive towards him.

At the moment he spends most of his day in bed with headaches, depression, nausea and it is hard to look at what the future holds.sometimes a week passes and he doesn't go out of the house.

I admit to loosing my patience with him as sometimes he doesn't seem too bad and he hardly ever helps in the house and is quite aggressive towards me.

Sorry for seeming so sorry for myself.

Thanks again everyone for letting me vent as there are very few people I can talk to about this.

booklover

dmg24

It must be hard for you too, watching him be poorly at an age when he should be enjoying life.

Is he getting the psychiatric support that he needs? With being so young, he should be referred quite quickly for an assessment.

Are you getting any support? Maybe it would be worth getting some counselling to put your own feelings into some context? x

booklover

Hi dmg

Thanks for your suppoort. Yes, we are getting some support (very limited psychiatric help ie. meds and talking therapy - it's really doing him a lot of good NOT! lol

Oh well it could be worse i suppose and yes I am finally getting some support too, only because I reached a stage of despair and asked for some help. but things are a little more hopeful now..

Thanks again..

booklover