Young people between the ages of 16 and 20 do not need to meet the contribution conditions if your period of limited capacity for work has lasted for at least 196 days and you are not in full-time education. You will still need to show that you are resident in Great Britain and that you are not subject to immigration control.
Employment and Support Allowance page index
Full time education is defined as requiring attendance of at least 21 hours per week. In working out the amount of hours spent the DWP will add together time spent in a week on-
Time spent on unsupervised study, morning assemblies, meal or relaxation breaks is not counted when making this calculation.
Ch 41 (volume 8) of the DWP Decision Makers Guide states that "A claimant who is 19 years of age or over is not treated as receiving full time education. This applies whether or not the claimant is undergoing fulltime education."
Young people aged 20-24
People between the ages of 20 and 25 are also exempt from the contributory requirement if you have registered on a course of-
You need to show that you started to attend the course at least three months before your 20th birthday.
You will also need to show that your period of limited capacity for work has lasted for at least 196 consecutive days.
Your attendance in education or training must have ended no earlier than the beginning of the last two tax years before the benefit year in which you apply. Benefit years run from the first sunday in January whereas tax years start in April.
Advanced education.
Advanced education means any course leading to
any other course which is of a standard above-
Secondary education means a course below advanced given at a university, college or school. Attendance at establishments which are considered to be equivalent to these will also count.
Training is defined as a course which runs for at least 16 hours per week teaching occupational or vocational skills.
There is no specific definition of full time, if there is any doubt then the DWP may contact your place of study for clarification. Part time courses will also count if your disability prevents you attending on a full time basis.
