Incapacity Benefit does indeed allow for some permitted work. Have you not heard anything yet about being migrated to ESA? (Employment and Support Allowance) All claimants on Incapacity are being moved to ESA and the target to finish these moves is 2013 before they introduce Universal Credit and PIPs, if you have already started a form of permitted work on Incapacity Benefit it will make it much more unlikely that you will put on ESA and will be told you do not meet the criteria and you should claim JSA instead. Most claimants are turned down for ESA at the first hurdle when they are applying only on mental health grounds, as you need to score more than 15 points and there are not enough in the mental health section to get you through. It is well worth making an appointment to speak to a Benefits Specialist at your local CAB if you can in advance of them changing you to ESA so you know what to expect and don't shoot yourself in the foot by starting permitted work now.

He is eligible for you to claim DLA for him as the condition has already lasted more than 6 months and is expected to last for more than that. That is the basic criteria on which to apply and he clearly satisfies that. However; the level of DLA he will be awarded is determined by how the application is completed and the supporting evidence supplied. In the form they ask for contact information for specialists etc, and you should fill them in BUT if you already have in your possession letters, statements etc between these people and you then you should include them in the application. When you are filling out sections about the help he needs out of doors do not just tick the yes or no boxes, but add as much information as you can. About how much extra attention you need to give him to keep him safe and calm etc. If you have letters or statements form play schemes that could indicate the level of supervision required then number them and state which number document relates to this answer (hopefully I am explaining this clearly enough). The basic rule of thumb here is - if YOU send the information as part of the application, then THEY have to read it and consider it. In my many years of benefits advice I have had several cases where claims have been delayed or rejected because Doctor's or other Agencies have not responded to the request for information. As much ground work as you can put in before sending the form the better.

If you are already claiming ESA on the basis of the condition resulting from the brain tumour then yes you would still have to attend the medical. If you are only claiming ESA because you are pregnant and unable to work then as soon as you are issued your MatB1 form you should make a claim for Income Support not ESA. Anyone called for a medical for ESA should attend, however; if there is a reason your pregnancy would prevent you travelling to the location notification in advance and a request for a change of venue should be honoured if your GP/Midwife adds their weight to it. You can ask to be seen somewhere more convenient for you.

A course is considered to be full-time if you would get 120 credits or more in a year. The number of hours is not the deciding factor for determining the eligibility of the course. However if you also want to work part-time not only does it need to be less than 16 hours, the rate of pay will also have an impact on other benefits such as Housing Benefit. It would be best to contact the provider of your course directly about how many credits the course you are doing is worth, if for example you will only complete 2 units in a year and they are 40 credits each (towards a full qualification) then you should be able to claim JSA. Hope that helps