WorkWAYSPromoting mental health through learning and work

The Maze

Tread carefully, it's easy to get lost... but here are some useful links to help you explore the world of legal advice, state benefits, Tax Credits, student loans and grants and government-funded programmes for people who are not in employment. This page was last updated on 10 March 2008 - we are not responsible for the content of external sites.

Student Loans & Grants

For more information on student loans, grants and other financial help for courses in Further and Higher Education (e.g. at University of Exeter and University of Plymouth) visit Devon County Council's Student Support Service.

Information on financial support for courses at Exeter College is available from Student Welfare.

State Benefits & Tax Credits

Depending on where you live it is now possible to make new claims for some state benefits (e.g. Jobseekers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support online. Click on the title for a link to the Dept for Work & Pensions e-service.

Click here to go to a range of downloadable leaflets from Jobcentre Plus and Dept for Work & Pensions (all in Adobe Reader format - free software from www.abobe.com) on benefits for sick and disabled people

These links will take you to some general guidelines - if you need specific advice about your personal situation, entitlement and claim contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus office (unless shown below)

Benefit calculator - a free, anonymous facility  to look at some of  the benefits you might be entitled to

Council Tax  Benefit  - for Exeter residents, dealt with by Exeter City Council

Disability Living Allowance

Housing Benefits - for Exeter residents, dealt with by Exeter City Council

Incapacity Benefit - including guidance on Permitted Work Rules and the Linking Rules

Income Support

Jobseeker's Allowance

Sick and unable to work

Social Fund

Tax Credits - dealt with by the Inland Revenue

The Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau offer advice and information and Devon Welfare Rights Unit may also be able to assist.

Information about lots of other benefits is also on the Lisson Grove Benefits Program

Legal & Other Advice

As well as the Citizens Advice Bureau, legal advice is available through the Community Legal Service who carry details of local solicitors, law centres, other advice outlets and a range of organisations and agencies. and the CLS fund (what was Legal Aid).

The Disability Discrimination Act also carries valuable protection - follow this link for some suggestions on what may constitute 'reasonable adjustments'. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) changed on 1 October 2004 and there's lots of very helpful information on the Equality & Human Rights Commission's website.

Both ACAS and the Health & Safety Executive have produced valuable resources about stress at work, health and employment and related legislation and good practice.

Although not updated for a while, www.hyperguide.co.uk/mha/  provides a good guide to the Mental Health Act 1983.

The Mental Health Commission say there are no occupations that can exclude somebody on the grounds that they have been detained (sectioned) under the Mental Health Act. Some employers might require a candidate to demonstrate medical fitness to work, but exclusion on the grounds of past detention (or past mental illness) alone could potentially be unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act .

The subject of criminal records and what constitutes a 'spent conviction' can also be a cause for concern for some. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act  provides useful guidance.

Also visit www.directgov.uk for information on a wide range of topics.

Promoting mental health through learning and work