As young people with special educational needs and/or a disability turn 16, 17, 18 or 19 they become entitled to benefits and support in their own right. What they are entitled to may or may not depend on whether they are still in education, are job seeking or claiming benefits.

Parents’ and carers’ benefits and tax credits can depend not only on the student or employment status of their young person with a disability and their other children, but also on what their children with a disability are claiming. Benefits and tax credits are complex.

You may wish to take specialist advice about your own situation. You will also need to take further advice if the young person with a disability in the family is a parent themselves.