Disabled child, leaving school, applying for UC

[poshsnobtwit]

DD18 has just left full time education. As I understand, I will get CB and child element until September? She gets enhanced rate care and mobility of PIP, so when do I apply for UC for her? Going into employment will not be an option. And what should I expect? Will she have to get a fit note, go to meetings etc? She's currently on my UC claim, if that makes a difference, and I'm her DWP appointee.

Once DD is no longer an eligible young person for your UC claim, you can apply for UC for her in her right. You will need a fit note for her. After a short while you will be sent a questionnaire and DD will have a work capability assessment (although sometimes this is a paper-based assessment). The outcome of the WCA will decide what, if any, commitments DD has and if she has ongoing meetings. The outcome could be DD is fit for work, has limited capability for work, or has limited capability for work and work-related activity.

Separate to benefits, does DD have an EHCP? If so, she can remain in education until 25, or 26 in some cases. If DD doesn’t have an EHCP, you should request an EHCNA.

Thank you for this. We are in NI, so no EHCP and her Statement finished not so long ago. I'm new to UC, will she remain on my claim until August 31st, the same as tax credits system?

If 31st August is when DD’s course ends, then it will be that date. Sorry I’m not sure what date NI courses finish.

The course ended on 30th June, but under tax credits I would still be paid until 31st August (or maybe Sept, can't remember). I'm not sure if UC is the same, or do I need to do a claim for her now?

There is no run on period.

If the course officially ended on the 30th of June and DD is no longer in full-time non-advanced education and isn't going on to further full-time non-advanced education, she would cease to be a qualifying young person then.

If the course technically doesn’t finish until 31st August, even though students have finished, DD would remain an eligible young person until the 31st August.

The child element would cease to be paid from the first day of the assessment period in which the course ended and DD was no longer a qualifying young person.

You can see the guidance here. Scroll down to the definition of qualifying young person and the example it gives.