Not Entitled To EMA Or ALG - Is There Anything Else?

catz747

Hello

One of our clients at work has just done his AS levels and is doing A-Levels next year, he's 19 now and not entitled to EMA, and he is in receipt of Income Support and so not entitled to ALG. He is living in Supported Accommodation (Hostel) and so the rent would be very high were he to work at weekends, I don't think that that would work too well.

I've checked EGAS Online and he doesn't seem to quite fit any criteria for grants there.

He was today told that he should cut college to 16 hours and sign on for Job Seekers but we're expecting him to get to uni next year so does anyone know of anything else he can apply for?

Thanks in advance

Oldernotwiser

catz747 wrote: »

Hello

One of our clients at work has just done his AS levels and is doing A-Levels next year, he's 19 now and not entitled to EMA, and he is in receipt of Income Support and so not entitled to ALG. He is living in Supported Accommodation (Hostel) and so the rent would be very high were he to work at weekends, I don't think that that would work too well.

I've checked EGAS Online and he doesn't seem to quite fit any criteria for grants there.

He was today told that he should cut college to 16 hours and sign on for Job Seekers but we're expecting him to get to uni next year so does anyone know of anything else he can apply for?

Thanks in advance

Apart fom extra help from the LSF, I can't think of anything else he'd be able to claim. As he'll be able to live on his IS and HB then I can't really see anything else he needs, nor any reason to work at weekends. The LSF will probably be able to help with travelling costs if he's ineligible for a bus pass.

What was he hoping to get a grant for?

catz747

He's been used to having £76 a week rather than £46 a week so budgets for that for bills / food etc, because he had EMA before. If he has to, he'll manage on £46 a week but he can't apply for the travel expenses without proof of EMA / ALG at the moment. I'm sure there's a way around that but he has to wait for the college people to get back from their hols.

The extra £30 a week also went towards any extra music tuition and instrument repairs, that kind of thing so it'll be a case of reacting if he needs money for something rather than him being proactive and budgeting in advance for stuff.

It just seems a shame that he works so hard but can't get that bit of extra dosh

Voyager2002

What is worrying is that he has been told to apply for JSA. I don't think he could continue to receive IS at the same time as claiming JSA.

Oldernotwiser

I can't at the moment think of a way round this, however you probably don't need to wait for the college to open as admin and guidance staff are around all through the holidays. Even academic staff will be around now exam results are coming in.

It is a tricky one.

Gemmzie

When is he 20? Since he's getting IS, it sounds like he might be estranged from his parents and living alone? Does he have any guardian claiming CB for him at all?

catz747

He's 20 in December, he is estranged from his parents, no-one is getting CB for him - that's how he gets IS. No he definitely can't get JSA and IS at the same time.

Thanks for your replies so far, I wondered about a business sponsoring him but not sure how to go about that?

Gemmzie

And he only has AS. Have you spoken to your local connexions? Young people can start their A2 year when they are 19 and still get EMA as it's a continuation.
I got it for my final year at college and turned 20 in the October.

catz747

Thanks, I'll check, I believe that he got EMA as a continuation after he turned 19 last December - he got it after that, we'll check though

999

Gemmzie wrote: »

And he only has AS. Have you spoken to your local connexions? Young people can start their A2 year when they are 19 and still get EMA as it's a continuation.
I got it for my final year at college and turned 20 in the October.

In England the rule for EMA this year is that your date of birth must be between "1 September 1989 and ending on 31 August 1992 inclusive". There is no longer the 'extra' year - that had to be supported by a certificate from a Connexions Adviser.

Savvy_Sue

Voyager2002 wrote: »

What is worrying is that he has been told to apply for JSA. I don't think he could continue to receive IS at the same time as claiming JSA.

Equally worrying is the proposal that he cut his hours to less than 16 and sign on, BUT he clearly wouldn't WANT to get a full-time job that stopped him studying, AND a part-time job might mess up everything else!