Hello there.
I am 26 years old, me and my wife go to university (the reason it's so "late" is because she's not been well enough to go before 'recently'). She suffers from what can only be called "generalised anxiety disorder" for which she is in receipt of DLA with the care component.
Before I go any further, she can go to university BECAUSE the university are fantastic and they have provided tons of support for her, anything she needed they provided AND I am only ever 5 mins away should something happen. So I urge you not to judge, not to think "it can't be that bad if she goes to uni" because believe me it can be and it is.
Now, we are both just going into our third year and throughout the summer holiday last year (for those who do not know, the summer vacation at uni is typically between May to October) and throughout this last year I received Carers Allowance because I... care for her...
Anyway, this year they have JUST TODAY made a decision that I am NOT entitled to CA because "I am in full time education". I phoned them and said that I was on holiday however this does not count! because the university class it as "full time" even if I'm not there for 5 bloody months.
Now, I understand why they won't give me CA while I'm actively at uni, because ultimately while I am "on call" the staff look after her and they do a very good job, so that is fine, but I'm on holiday now.
Student finance only covers you in term time, according to the government (and I actually received a letter way back when we started stating this, which I don't have because I bloody sent it to em last year ) you are "supposed" to find a job during the vacation. I have a bloody job!
So, excuse the ranting nature of this post (although you've gotta admit, it's a legitimate rant) but anybody got any idea what I should do now?
I am 26 years old, me and my wife go to university (the reason it's so "late" is because she's not been well enough to go before 'recently'). She suffers from what can only be called "generalised anxiety disorder" for which she is in receipt of DLA with the care component.
Before I go any further, she can go to university BECAUSE the university are fantastic and they have provided tons of support for her, anything she needed they provided AND I am only ever 5 mins away should something happen. So I urge you not to judge, not to think "it can't be that bad if she goes to uni" because believe me it can be and it is.
Now, we are both just going into our third year and throughout the summer holiday last year (for those who do not know, the summer vacation at uni is typically between May to October) and throughout this last year I received Carers Allowance because I... care for her...
Anyway, this year they have JUST TODAY made a decision that I am NOT entitled to CA because "I am in full time education". I phoned them and said that I was on holiday however this does not count! because the university class it as "full time" even if I'm not there for 5 bloody months.
Now, I understand why they won't give me CA while I'm actively at uni, because ultimately while I am "on call" the staff look after her and they do a very good job, so that is fine, but I'm on holiday now.
Student finance only covers you in term time, according to the government (and I actually received a letter way back when we started stating this, which I don't have because I bloody sent it to em last year ) you are "supposed" to find a job during the vacation. I have a bloody job!
So, excuse the ranting nature of this post (although you've gotta admit, it's a legitimate rant) but anybody got any idea what I should do now?