Incapacity...

Former Member

Can you claim Incapacity Benefit if you're in full time education? Had a look at the jobcentre website, but it doesn't mention education and eligibility...

Any ideas?

Former Member

How long do you think you'd need it for? I'm asking because quite a while back i broke my jaw in 3 places AT THE JOB CENTRE!! (I fainted and hit my head) they still managed to just fuck me about for 6 months though until I was actually well enough to work again. So if its likely to be a short term thing i wouldnt bother applying!

Former Member

It'd be long term really. Chronic joint pain caused by Ehlers Danlos Syndrome...

Former Member

I think full time education would only matter if you were recieving any income from it, like eligability for a student loan or grant which they would take into account as your income regardless of whether you took them or not. Don't quote me on it though.

Former Member

Well, that's why I'm confused. I'm at college full time, which is 3 days a week. I'm struggling with 3 days, and attending both college and work is impossible.

I'm hoping to go to uni (commute 3 days a week) later this yr, but am not elligible for any grants or loans because of my parent's high income and that I live at home.
I'm in the middle of claiming Disability Living Allowance, care and mobility components, but it still isn't enough to live on, if I get it.

I've read an info pdf about incapacity benefit and it doesn't even mention claiming whilst in full time education...... argh.

Former Member

You can qualify for incapacity benefit whilst in full time or part time education, but you must meet the assessments (which are quite complex and I think can include not being able to have worked for X amount of days etc.).

There's a bit more information on it here.

Former Member

Edited coz I can't read when it's 2am... haha

Former Member

I would have thought that the biggest catch is going to be that if you're in full time education you qualify for other support, like a student loan. From what I understood of it while I was a counted as a full time student I was entitled to anything that was aimed at replacing an income.

Incapacity Benefit is for people who can't work, if you're in full time education then that's your full time occupation.

I'm pretty sure even if you live at home your entitled to some loan, although it won't be the full one.

Sorry, I'm not expressing myself well at all, but basically if your doing full time education then I'd be amazed if you got Incapacity Benefit.

Former Member

Ilora-Danon wrote: »

Well, that's why I'm confused. I'm at college full time, which is 3 days a week. I'm struggling with 3 days, and attending both college and work is impossible.

you're not kidding either, are you.

your course may be classed as 'full time' but 3 days a week is less than half of the week! i'm a full time final year student and i'm at uni 5 days a week and i work at the weekend.

so attending college and work is not impossible ffs.

Former Member

From the www.direct.gov.uk

Who is eligible?
You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if any of the following apply to you:

your Statutory Sick Pay has ended, or you can't get it
you are self employed or unemployed
you have been getting Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and have not gone back to work for your employer because you are incapable of work
you were under State Pension age when you became sick
You must also have been:

paying National Insurance Contributions
unable to work due to sickness or disability for at least four days in a row (including weekends and public holidays)
getting special medical treatment and unable to work for two or more days out of seven consecutive days

or

You must:

be aged between 16 and 20 (or under 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20), and
have been too ill to work because of sickness or disability for at least 28 weeks, and
have been too ill to work before you turned 20 (or 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20).

The only way you might qualify is if you are getting specialist medical treatment and you're unable to work for more than two days out of 7. Incapacity Benefit is for those that can do nothing, or almost nothing.

Once you go to uni you'll be eligible for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan.

Former Member

lucifer devil wrote: »

so attending college and work is not impossible ffs.

It can be if she's struggling with health problems. Ilora's course will be quite a physically demanding one I should imagine - she'll be on her feet all day everyday, which won't be pleasant when suffering with joint pains.

Am no help other than that really, just thought I'd point that out.

Former Member

theyd probably say if you are capable of going to college, then youd be capable of working tbh.

Former Member

Nikki* wrote: »

It can be if she's struggling with health problems. Ilora's course will be quite a physically demanding one I should imagine - she'll be on her feet all day everyday, which won't be pleasant when suffering with joint pains.

Am no help other than that really, just thought I'd point that out.

what and studying for a degree is easy, is it?! illora is choosing to do her course and be 'on her feet everyday'.

Former Member

lucifer devil wrote: »

what and studying for a degree is easy, is it?! illora is choosing to do her course and be 'on her feet everyday'.

No, no need to be defensive, I didn't say or mean that. I'm pointing out that the reason she is probably struggling is because Ilora has problems with her joints as it is, and is doing a physically demanding course. This is probably why finding a job she feels well enough to do around her course may be difficult.

Former Member

I think she is doing pretty well if she has joint problems, and from what i just read about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome its pretty shit.

If you can't hack it then it's not exactly your fault. At least you have tried.

I dont really know what else to say. Hope you feel better soon though, it cant be nice what you suffer with.

Former Member

which is why she is going to apply for disability benefits.

when she finishes her training, she'll presumably get a full-time job (by this i mean 5 days a week, not 3) where she'll be working every day!

Former Member

What you said first lucifer came across a bit harsh, you cant compare what you do to hers, she has got an illness which causes her pain.

If she cant cope and she is in pain she can't exactly help it. I think for saying what she suffers with then she does well to have a job as well as go to uni.

Former Member

Dinted wrote: »

What you said first lucifer came across a bit harsh, you cant compare what you do to hers, she has got an illness which causes her pain.

:yes: Agreed, I'm not criticisng you lucifer, just it's a completely different situation. I suffer with hypermobility syndrome, a condition with similar problems, although no where near as complicated/painful, and I struggle with the hours I do at work/college the minute - and I'm used to this, and have been living with it since I was 4.

It's all about developing a coping mechanism, and I should think Ilora is on medication for it, which will slowly start to help.

I really don't understand the benefits system though so I can't really help the original question

Former Member

Dinted wrote: »

What you said first lucifer came across a bit harsh, you cant compare what you do to hers, she has got an illness which causes her pain.

If she cant cope and she is in pain she can't exactly help it. I think for saying what she suffers with then she does well to have a job as well as go to uni.

lol i'm in pain too, trust me.

perhaps what i said was harsh, but imo if illora can manage to go to college she can manage to get a job. if she can't cope then perhaps she shouldn't be at college.

Former Member

fair enough. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Im sure she will know whats best for herself, maybe if she doesnt work she will be able to rest more so therefore she may be able to cope with uni. But like i said, only ilora will know

Former Member

btw, illora is not incapable! impaired, perhaps (with her joints i mean). but not incapable.

Former Member

Never mind, can't reword it properly to explain what I mean

Former Member

Nikki* wrote: »

Never mind, can't reword it properly to explain what I mean

It made sense Nikki and i agree with what you said before you edited.

Former Member

Dinted wrote: »

It made sense Nikki and i agree with what you said before you edited.

Did it? Ah well, I'm confusing myself again, I need some sleep. Can't think how I worded it now anyway.

EDIT: Ooh yes I can. I just said that no one is claiming Ilora is incapable of anything, she's just in need of support to help her through her studies, without any extra worry.

And to add to that, I'm sure by the time she has completed her studies, her condition may be a lot more stable/controlled and she may be more able to complete longer working weeks.

Former Member

but surely if she is applying for incapacity benefit she should be incapable? i'm not doubting that she shouldn't be entitled to disability allowance here.

Former Member

lucifer devil wrote: »

but surely if she is applying for incapacity benefit she should be incapable? i'm not doubting that she shouldn't be entitled to disability allowance here.

Nor am I (over the Disability bit)

I'm not 100% how any benefit system works, I've not really come into contact with it, but she's looking into it (as far as I can tell) because she's is currently incapable of working and completing her education due to the pain. Whether it qualifies as incapacity since she's at college I'm not sure, but I think thats what Ilora is wanting to find out.

Former Member

Nikki, you're bang on. I'm looking into the possibililty of support I'm elligible for, if any. I qualify for Disability Living allowance, that's all taken care of.

What I want to find out is, am I elligible for Incapacity benefit whilst in education... pretty simply question really. If I'm not elligible, no harm done, it just means that I'm going to have to live on whatever DLA I'm awarded (which could be as little as £16 a week).

I'm not elligible for any loans when I go to university as I live at home and my parents earn a high income. Or, that's what I've been lead to believe, when attending an open day at the uni I'm applying to.

The reason why I'm so keen on claiming benefits is because I want to live as normal life as possible. I don't want to be confined to my house and be ill and depressed. I want to go out and earn a living, but having EDS Type 3, means that it is extremely difficult and painful. I'm taking Tramadol permanently for the pain and have to wear mobility aids in my shoes. Being on my feet all day is excrutiating, but what are the other options? I would rather ask for financial support, which will help me maintain as normal life as physically allowing, than stay at home and give in to my illness like so many people do.

Former Member

lucifer devil wrote: »

you're not kidding either, are you.

your course may be classed as 'full time' but 3 days a week is less than half of the week! i'm a full time final year student and i'm at uni 5 days a week and i work at the weekend.

so attending college and work is not impossible ffs.

My college course may be over 3 days a week, but I attend college for 23.5 hours in those 3 days. It's extremely tiring and painful to attend college for that long, with my illness. I couldn't manage to work on top of that - the other 4 days are spent resting.

Former Member

The open day mislead you. You're entitled to a financially assessed loan, which may be lower than for live out students, but you will still be eligible for one. You will also be entitled to a tuition fee loan.

Take a look at the direct gov website, that has all the info on.

As a summary of what I found, while you're in full time education you don't qualify for anything that would substitute or support your working income, like incapacity benefit. Sorry if that disappoints you, but if you're on a 'full time' course thats actually only 3 days a week you're not necessarily in a worse position than someone who is on a very demanding 5/6 day a week course and can't manage a job on top of that.

You do get something to support you because of the limitations of your disability, but that is Disability Living Allowance.

Former Member

I've had a look at the student finance website, and filled in an assessment form thingy and it says I'm only eligible for a maintenance grant of £3k... I'm not entitled to a tuition fee loan because of my parents income.

But that's all in oct. My parents have said they'll support me financially as much as they can while I'm at uni.
But it's when I'm at college that I have no income and therefore struggle with living costs. I won't be getting DLA for months yet, as my claim's only just gone through and even then I may be turned down... leaving me with no money whatsoever.

It sucks

Former Member

Are you not living at home while you're at college? I'm assuming that you're not paying rent or bills etc so your living costs can't be that high. Do you get Easter holidays from college? Maybe you could look for a job a couple of days a week for during the holidays?

I'm pretty sure that everyone who can get the lowest level maintenance loan can get the fee loan as you can get a fee loan without being financially assessed so your parents income won't matter.