Financial support for 17 yr old not in education due to poor mental health?

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Hi, my 17yr old has withdrawn from 6th form as result of poor mental health. Social anxiety, general anxiety and depression. On sertraline for a month now and no change in mood/outlook yet.
I informed tax credits and child benefit today, they said he is no longer entitled to eithe. Haven't spoken to CMS yet but I see that he won't get that either. Also, knowing CMS, no doubt they will take months to change my claim during which time payments will stop.
Does anyone know if we are entitled to any form of financial support for a teenager unable to attend full time education due to ill health? Thank you

Hi, bizarrely I came on this forum to ask the exact same question. I am in the same situation with a 16 year old boy who has not made it to college and officially withdrawn for the year due to poor mental health. Not only have we found out we are losing £80 a month child benefit I have also been told today that we will also have to pay for his prescriptions which are £9 a month (and linked to his mental health). He is with a CAHMS therapist so I wonder if this counts for anything.

There doesn't seem to be much support if they're out of the system. Obviously we continue to support our son, but it would be nice to know if there's any help out there we didn't realise.

Your child can apply for PIP as they are over 16.

You can ask to be your child’s appointee and apply for pip on their behalf. www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

That is it as far as I am aware, a 17 year old can only claim uc etc if they are living idependently

Thanks for your advice, I'll look in to PIP as I wasn't aware of that.

Yes, we have prescription charges too.

I did know about PIP but from the criteria it send you have to be almost unable to look after yourself to be eligible. Ds isn’t like that, just massive anxiety issues which means he’s feels unable to go to college (and other places). I will definitely apply though, thanks.

Just giving this thread a little bump as I think I might end up having to do this for DD she has tried 6th form and it looks like it might be too much, she does have a formal diagnosis of depression and is still under CAMHS. Some days she can't look after herself and as I understand it, its those days you have to describe in the form. However, DD can do 1 day a week at a part time job and that actually helps her to cope with MH - I'm thinking that means she won't get anything?

Interested to hear how any of you are getting on?

Would applying for an EHCP be an option for supporting them in staying in education?

My DD is suffering similarly with anxiety (among other things) and this is the route we're going down.

We've also applied for PIP but I'd apply as soon as possible as the wait is loooong!

HI @LonginesPrime thanks for reply - I am thinking I have left it stupidly late for an EHCP - I could have easily applied this time last year when DD was unable to leave the house, but then I just found it overwhelming.

I have a file here that I took to a charity that helps with EHCPs in April. Its still in a pile the same as the day I returned from the meeting with them, plonked it on the chair, never looked at it again. 7 months later

God, Dishing, I know exactly what you mean - the whole thing is so draining, especially on top of looking after DCs who are already struggling massively.

I found the same with all the PIP forms and DLA for my younger teen (similar issues) - having to write out the minutiae of exactly what makes our lives so bloody difficult is so hard when you're also having to live that life!

I find the EHCP applications daunting as it feels like you only get one shot to get it right. I'm definitely struggling with paperwork fatigue too, as the only time I get to do that stuff is when they've all gone to bed and I'm bloody exhausted by then too!

I definitely don't think it's too late to apply for an EHCP - I think they rely on people being put off by the length of the process, but if you do it now, the assessments will still be completed this academic year. I wish I'd have done it earlier too, but I'm still pushing ahead with it as I know I'll regret it if I don't.

My aim is to get it sorted for my DD this academic year so that she can have a fresh start with proper support next September, and hopefully hang on to her college place until then.

You can go to your local one stop shop for support with forms, or citizens advice.