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Incapacity...
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Work & Study
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?
Any ideas?
0
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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.
There's a bit more information on it here.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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!
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.
: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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.