With regards to state benefits:

If he is recieving income support with the disabililty +/- severe disability
premium or incapable of work for 28 weeks then he will still be entitled to
the same income support when he is a student. The same applies ot housing
benefit.

But if he is entitled to a student loan, whether or not he takes it out then
he will have the weekly equivalent of what he is entitled to subtracted from
his income support, minus a ten pounds allowance. if he's 55 I don't think
he could take out a student loan though.

Jenny


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Trott" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: study support / sickness benefit


> If he is at or intending to go to a 'college', i.e. an FE institution on
an
> FEFC course he cannot 'get a computer' under the HE DSA scheme.
> However, his FE college has an obligation to support him and this is done
> under ALS (Additional Learning Support) Whether he has access to a
computer
> or other support depends on his needs which should be properly assessed.
The
> cost of an assessment can be reclaimed from FEFC as part of ALS funding.
> Note that FE students do not get an award in the same way as HE students.
and
> computer equipment made available will remain the property of the FE
> ciollege, in fact he is very unlikely to be allowed to take it home. This
is
> because the college will get roughly one third of the cost of any
equipment
> each year (depending on their agreed policy for writing off equipment).
> He should go back to the admissions unit at his college and ask about
> supoport for students with learning difficulties and if this does not
produce
> help to ask what provisions are made under Addtional Learning Support. His
> college should also have a Disability Statement and other documents to
advise
> him and he should have signed a learners agreement stating what he and the
> college agree are his rights and obligations.
> If, on the other hand, he is on an HE course and studying more than 50%
time
> table he will need to talk to his LEA awards office and ask about DSA
> (Disabled Students Allowance).  If he is an OU student he should contact
the
> DSA Office at Walton Hall.
> I hope this is helpful, please ask Lisa to contact me directly if she
would
> like any more advice.
> Michael Trott
>
> In a message dated 23/02/01 18:44:41 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
> << From: "Lisa@RVDA" <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: "BDA FORUM" <[log in to unmask]>
>  Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 10:19 AM
>  Subject: [BDAFORUM] study support / sickness benefit
>
>
>  > I have recently had an enquiry from a dyslexic gentleman who intends to
go
>  > to college to do training in counselling (connected with church).
>  >
>  > The gentleman is 55 years old and doesn't work. He is on sickness
benefit
>  > due to arthritus and astma. He is very involved with his church and
>  councils
>  > people. He would like to do some formal training to reinforce what he
>  does,
>  > but also because he still has a very big chip on his shoulder. In his
own
>  > words he would like to show people that he isn't the village idiot.
>  >
>  > He told me that he is dyslexic - he had a GREAT deal of trouble noting
>  down
>  > some dates I gave him - and he had been told by someone at college that
he
>  > may be able to get help in the form of a computer. He would like such
>  help,
>  > but his biggest concern is that it may affect his benefits.
>  >
>  > Who do I direct him to?
>  > Is there an issue with him being on benefit?
>  >
>  >
>  > Know you'll come up with something!
>  >
>  > Lisa
>  >
>  > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  > Ribble Valley Dyslexia Association
>  > Tel: 01200 444 742
>  > [log in to unmask]
>  > What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
>  > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  > Thanks Judith,
>
>  Yes he does have a college in mind, but from what I understand the
>  disability officer is the one who has told him that other students have
got
>  hold of computers, but she didn't know the procedure.
>  His biggest concern is not loosing his benefits. Basically it would
appear
>  that he does not intend to do the course as a means to paid employment
but
>  as training to help with his voluntary counselling work at church. I can
>  understand that the Employment Service may not want to fund support for
>  training that isn't going to lead to someone getting off benefit and into
>  employment - I think this is his fear. Not for me to judge, I haven't met
>  the man in question.
>
>  I would be very grateful if you could post the request on the Dis-forum,
>  thank you.
>
>  Lisa >>