Disabled people lose Adult Education discount fee?

Westminster Adult Education services are saying they have been sent instructions by DWP that discount fees can only be given to benefits that lead to jobs which includes the WRAG group of ESA but not the Support group. As well as leaving disabled people who are unabled to work without the chance of affordable education to help them survive their situation, it also means the majority of incapacity benefit people who haven't yet been assessed for ESA wont be eligible for discounts and for some, won't be till 2014 when assessments are finished and they know if they are in WRAG. Are Westminster making the right interpretation of this change? Has anyone esle heard abou this?

shirleygrange wrote:

Westminster Adult Education services are saying they have been sent instructions by DWP that discount fees can only be given to benefits that lead to jobs which includes the WRAG group of ESA but not the Support group. As well as leaving disabled people who are unabled to work without the chance of affordable education to help them survive their situation, it also means the majority of incapacity benefit people who haven't yet been assessed for ESA wont be eligible for discounts and for some, won't be till 2014 when assessments are finished and they know if they are in WRAG. Are Westminster making the right interpretation of this change? Has anyone esle heard abou this?

Its not for the DWP to tell any council how or who to discount on any course central goverenment has in the past given funds to support courses that help people return to work but local councillers will not be happy taking advise from the dwp

been told by jobcentre contact that government is only subsidising adult educaion courses for those on benefits that lead directly to work - hence only disabled people in the WRAG group. those on incapacity benefit not yet assessed or those in the esa support group will no longer get discounts because they can't work. so disabled people again left out in the cold

Isn't this direct disability discrimination by the Government?

Hi All,

I'm afraid Adult Education discounts are not within moderators remit, therefore I'm locking this thread.

Extract from Forum FAQ : As Moderators our area of expertise is in relation to disability living allowance, attendance allowance, the personal capability assessment used in connection with incapacity benefits and the work capability assessment used in connection with employment and support allowance. So those are the only subjects on which we can provide reliable information.

Regards.

Jim