ESA/Full time student help.

deannatrois wrote: »

This is a question I ask myself, with a son on ESA and DLA at Uni who was just called into an assessment. Does 'education' mean any education, education at further, higher or even post grad level?

Say my son had received his appt for a health assessment for his ESA.., what does he say to them to point out he automatically is considered LCW as per points 2 and 3?

My son wrote on his ESA50 that he was a full time student, studying for a Masters and that he was in receipt of DLA. I assumed none of this was relevant anymore when he was called for an assessment. I wish I'd got him to query it at the time.

calcotti wrote: »

Not being thick at all - it’s jargon. There’s an explanation here https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Jargon-buster/Qualifying-Young-Person

Although it appears that he may be entitled to be treated as having LCW automatically he would still need an assessment to determine if he should be in the Support a Group. LCW and Support Group are different and give rise to different benefit amounts.

Thanks. He was in the support group and had been for the previous 2 years, this was without an assessment. I've just looked at that link and I don't think it applies to my son as he's 23.

calcotti wrote: »

He’s not a qualifying young person so meets the three criteria which means that he should be entitled to be treated as having LCW. When you say he was in the Support Group without an assessment did he have to complete a Work Capability questionnaire (ESA50)?

Yes he completed an ESA50.
I'm going to ring the Disability Rights helpline later.
Thanks.

calcotti wrote: »

Sorry, think two time lines are getting muddled here. My understanding of OPs previous comments were that son was originally put into Support a Group without an assessment and I was seeking to clarify that if an ESA50 was completed then a WCA assessment had taken place.

I agree that a claimant should not be found fit for work without a face to face assessment to inform the WCA decision. From the opening post I understand that son did have a face to face assessment this time round prior to being found fit for work.

2 years ago-ESA50 filled out, no f2f assessment, placed in support group.

This time ESA50 filled out, f2f assessment, ESA withdrawn completely.

Both times he was a full time uni student in receipt of DLA and no change in his conditions.

I tried to phone Disability Rights UK on thursday but couldn't get through, so I have to ring again on tuesday, between 11am-1pm.

When I got to uni yesterday to collect my son I found him collapsed on the floor and an ambulance had been called. He was in agony and couldn't breathe, he said he thought he was going to die, it wasn't like his usual panic attacks. The hospital ran an ECG, blood test and a chest x-ray and they think it's either a bacterial or viral infection so he's being treated for both. They did say that the stress of all this wouldn't have helped. So I think due to this he'll put in for MR but not take it to a tribunal.

Thanks for all the help and advice.