Think we ve found the guidance onthis but has anyone has found a solution? hope we're wrong!

Student at uni, fell ill part way through year - intends to suspend course until better - say next year or year after and tries to claim esa - refused as still counted as student.

Seems he has to abandon course for good to get esa.

See DMG 41647 and also even routes to IS/JSA seem blocked 30236 etc

Any ideas appreciated!
Any student advisers out there had similar?

Would your student meet the criteria for DLA? Students receiving DLA are not excluded from ESA.

No no DLA so we have to show he is not a student

Thu 18-Mar-10 02:22 PM by Joanna

Students who only suspend temporarily would still be seen as students by DWP because you are a student until you graduate, withdraw or are expelled. This is sadly a very common trap for students who need to suspend on medical grounds. Student funding in such cases should provide further 60 days of funding, from the date of suspension, after that student could ask for further support on discretionary grounds (needs to provide evidence and strong arguments in support as discretion seem to be a byword for "no way Jose" in SFE). Suspended students remain eligible for Access to Learning Fund.
Did you try out conditions for ESA CB (Y)?

Many many thanks.
Pam.