Benefits and Career advice

DNF

Looking for advice Please,

I'm 31 years old, just been made redundant and looking to change my career.
I left school at the age of 14 and had never applied for any grants or any benefits beside the Jobseeker's allowance for the first time ever last week, and i know nothing about benefits, grants or career advice.
When i tried to get answers at the Job Centre all they could offer was the Job Seeker’s Allowance (£60.50 weekly), and told me that they used to have a career advisor but he was budgeted out last year...

With no official qualification I have been a senior AV & home automation installer and system designer for the past 6+ years and have had a good paying job over the past 14 months (30+K annual), prior to that job i have been self Employed for the last 8 years, and i have 6 years of fully paid NI.

I don’t own property, and since I’ve been made redundant I’ve moved back in with my parents, so no rent bills etc’ and i have no savings, pensions or any other income or assets.
I’m single with two credit cards, one -£200 and the other -£950 in settlement and i pay the min+ every month, both are high interest.
My only one bank account is -£2500 without OD arrangement so also very high interest.

I have just applied for an Abbey bank Account online so i have were to put the JSA and I’m still waiting for there reply. I have also started looking in to reclaiming bank charges and i know there are a few good £100’s maybe even over £1000 waiting and gaining interest for the past 5-6 years, i also used to have a 20K loan and Credit card with PPI’s… and i think there is some tax money too.

I’m looking for a low interest loan to cover the above +little (£5000) one that i can start paying when i get a new job or even better, after i learn a new career and start a new job or business using my experience and new career.


Is it the right time to look for support with career change, can i get a grant to learn and can i get financial/housing support while i learn?

Many thanks

D.


NB
In case you’re wondering where the hell my salary has disappeared to, and why don’t i have any savings? That’s due to a business I owned for three years that ended with some debts I have been paying for financially and mentally in the past two years, and I still owe family couple ££££’s.

~Beanie~

I’m looking for a low interest loan to cover the above +little (£5000) one that i can start paying when i get a new job or even better, after i learn a new career and start a new job or business using my experience and new career.

I seriously doubt that you will get a consolidation loan (especially a low interest one that you don't make any repayments on) when you have no income other than benefits.

can i get a grant to learn and can i get financial/housing support while i learn?

Not sure about a grant but many training courses are free for people on JSA or IS. You may also qualify for a Career Development Loan (to pay the training costs, not to repay your credi cards!), see here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm

Why do you need housing support if you live rent free with parents?

DNF

well at the age of 31 i'm not the happiest at my parent...and if i can get support i will move out and start learning asap and find a part time job clear my debts, maybe from home to save time while learning.
Hopefully my bank charges and PPI recliam will help pay my debts.

Conor_3

No advice really because it's all a bit bad out there at the moment but I'd like to congratulate you for proving that you can get on in this life if you don't do well at school, unlike some of the moaning badly done to gits in here.

I'm quite sure you'll find something - you've got the type of motivation and "get go" that is needed.

DNF

Thanks Conor,

By the way if any one has read my thread and thinks its too hard to get support, well...I Just followed the link i got from "Beanie" and that led to a long phone conversation with a career advisor, I now have three Uni's to choose from and a student support help line to find the right funding.
the next step will be Housing benefits...

Hope this thread helps

D.

elisebutt65

Just to let you know that you won't get housing benefit as a student so you need to get a part time job to tide you over in the long summer break.

Are you an UK National? I know you said in another thread that English is your 2nd language, because that will also affect you grant and loan status.

You may want to live in residence if you get into a Uni or do a house share with other students as that will probably work out cheaper than a flat or house to yourself as well.

Don't forget as well that there is a cut off on 15th January for UCAS applications so you need to pull your finger out;)

Good luck!

DNF

elisebutt65 wrote: »

Just to let you know that you won't get housing benefit as a student so you need to get a part time job to tide you over in the long summer break.

Are you an UK National? I know you said in another thread that English is your 2nd language, because that will also affect you grant and loan status.

You may want to live in residence if you get into a Uni or do a house share with other students as that will probably work out cheaper than a flat or house to yourself as well.

Don't forget as well that there is a cut off on 15th January for UCAS applications so you need to pull your finger out;)

Good luck!

Yes, i was born here but left when i was 2y old, returned 8 years ago and started teacing my self English.

thanks for the Cut off advise, I did'nt know that and yes I really should figer out the best way to learn and start applying asap if still want to get in for 2009 .

tnx

briona

I didn't realise you had two threads – I posted on your other one.

What are you thinking of studying? If it's a University course have you checked that you meet the eligibility criteria as having left school at 14 you will obviously have no formal qualifications?

If it's more of a vocational course rather than an academic one, have you considered doing an apprenticeship? As an apprentice you would be paid a minimum of £80pw rising to £95pw from August 2009 (you wouldn't earn enough to pay tax so you'd take the lot home), you'd work 4 days a week and spend one (paid) day in college studying. You get a minimum of 20 paid holidays per year plus bank holidays, and at the end of it, you'd get a qualification and of course you'd have accrued some on-the-job experience. According to the link below, there are 180 possible career choices in which you could do an apprenticeship. As long as you are aged 16-64, living in England and not currently in education you are eligible.

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Be-An-Apprentice/Other-Questions.aspx

DNF

briona wrote: »

I didn't realise you had two threads – I posted on your other one.

What are you thinking of studying? If it's a University course have you checked that you meet the eligibility criteria as having left school at 14 you will obviously have no formal qualifications?

If it's more of a vocational course rather than an academic one, have you considered doing an apprenticeship? As an apprentice you would be paid a minimum of £80pw rising to £95pw from August 2009 (you wouldn't earn enough to pay tax so you'd take the lot home), you'd work 4 days a week and spend one (paid) day in college studying. You get a minimum of 20 paid holidays per year plus bank holidays, and at the end of it, you'd get a qualification and of course you'd have accrued some on-the-job experience. According to the link below, there are 180 possible career choices in which you could do an apprenticeship. As long as you are aged 16-64, living in England and not currently in education you are eligible.

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Be-An-Apprentice/Other-Questions.aspx

Oh, wow, thanks.

Well very innocently at first, i was thinking of learning to be a Webmaster, but i think that i will have to start with courses first, and i'll see if it's possible to maybe do an apprenticeship and work part time at my old job that makes me around £200 a day so can do it two time a week...