Income support and A level ?

Question

I'm on income support for health reasons. Can i go to college and do one A level ?, will they still allow me to stay on income support ?. I hope they won't think that just because i may be able to cope with one A level then they won't think i'm fit to work full time in a factory as i'm not.

I've spoken to the DWP and they told me a 'decision maker' will decide if i can do the course. This scares me as i've read elsewhere on the net that they review your benefit if you tell them you want to do a college course. Could this lead to them taking my money off me ?

Answer 1

I dont think you'll have a problem I was on income support whilst studying for my a-levels (this was 2004) i doubt much has changed since then.

Answer 2

I take it this one A level is part time ?

If so your IS is not affected at all by part time study. (IS Regulations, Reg 4Z). If you are full time it depends on whether you get the disability premium or not, if you get it then you can study full time and get IS as a disabled student (IS Regulations Sch 1B)

Part Time means less than 16 guided training hours per week, full time means over the 16.

The Decision Maker is likely to allow it (at least I would hope he would as there would appear no legal basis not to), however, he may choose to send you for a Personal Capability assessment (PCA - medical), if they do be clear to the examining doctor that despite study you are very limited due to your health