HL Deb 16 October 1990 vol 522 cc878-9WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the funding position of 19 year-olds who are still in school or sixth form colleges, whose education may have been interrupted through no fault of their own, if they are without parental support and cannot draw housing benefit.

Baroness Blatch

Local education authorities have discretion to award grants, known as Educational Maintenance Allowances, to young people who choose to remain at school beyond the age limit for compulsory schooling. It is entirely for the local education authority to decide whether they wish to use them.

Income Support is not generally payable to young people aged 19 and over who are in full-time education, whether in school or college. Those pupils and students who were in receipt of Income Support on the grounds of severe disability prior to their 19th birthday are eligible to continue to receive Income Support and Housing Benefit, as are those students in vulnerable groups, such as lone parents and the disabled.

Young people aged 19 who are still at school are also exempt from paying the Community Charge.