Benefits
Our finance team ensures students claim what they are entitled to and offer support and guidance in making these claims. They also explain changes which will happen to benefits when an individual starts attending a residential college environment.
What are you entitled to?
Disability Living Allowance
Paid in two parts:
- Mobility – Not affected by attending college and remains intact
- Care – Usually affected by attending residential college in the same way as if a person goes into hospital. Benefit is retained for first 28 days and after this is suspended for the time spent at residential college. Entitlement to the benefit does not cease and can be reinstated on completion of training. Can be claimed for time spent away from college with some exceptions e.g. students who are totally self funded.
Carer’s Allowance
A carer must be engaged in caring for a disabled person (regularly and substantially) for a minimum of 35 hours per week. If benefit ceases it can be claimed whilst a student is at home and should mirror the claim for the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
Incapacity Benefit in Youth
Some people will continue to be in receipt of this benefit provided the claim was made before 27th October 2008. It has now been replaced by Employment & Support Allowance.
Employment and Support Allowance
A benefit paid to people whose illness or disability means they have ‘limited capability for work’. It has two distinct parts:
- ESA contributory based (ESA C)
- ESA income related (ESA IR)
Council Tax Benefit Disability Reduction
You may be entitled to a reduction of one band scale if a disabled person lives in the dwelling and the dwelling has certain features that are essential or of major importance to the disabled person because of her / his disability.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Paid to the learner but based on parental earnings.
If you need more information, please contact Christine O’Neill on 01623 499111 ext 203 or email christineoneill@portland.ac.uk.
