BTEA - Dropped out of college

rawn

Hi guys, I was in my first year of college and was signed out of college for a few weeks with depression and anxiety by my doctor. As it happened I was unable to return as even with the doctors note I was going to have to repeat a single module next year before I'm eligible for year 2, but the course I was doing was discontinued so there won't be a year 2 after my class graduates. Anyways, with all the back-and-forthing with the college it just slipped my mind to speak to the social welfare, it honestly didn't occur to me until i got a letter for them this week reminding me that I will switch to JSA over the summer. Now I'm afraid that if I go and tell them that I dropped out in March and didn't tell them they will stop me from getting any JSA at all. Where do I stand?

myshirt

You need to tell them asap.

Potentially you may owe monies, but likely not. If it is a no loss to the state scenario then this is in your favour. I know it can be difficult to manage your affairs with illness, but the expectation, rightly or wrongly, is that you will manage them to some degree.

From what you say, you have not met a minimum standard. A run of the mill doctors note will most certainly need to be supported further I would say to explain why such a delay. Presumably you have a strong case, though note that some people have found doctors to be very hesitant and conservative on things like this because of their professional indemnity insurance risks. Make sure your doctor writes an extremely strong explanation of support, and do inform welfare. You don't want to end up neck deep in it, you need strong support bar facing a bad problem, the best thing to do is sort it now. Best wishes with your health.