lone parent, help back to work

shugboy

hi,im lookin for some advice on back to work funding, i received £100 through my loan parent adviser 2 years ago to apply for a private hire licence , i got the licence but unfortunatly my car at the time could not be used for this purpose so i had to give up on the idea my lone parent adviser understood and was happy when i showed him the licence that i tried , i now have a car thats perfect for private hire but when i asked my new adviser for help again i was told i cant get any help as her manager said no because i never used the first licence, i have managed to borrow and use any spare cash i could from my benefits and have got my private hire plates and should get my licence in the next few weeks,but i have to get a certificate from a college day course before the council issue me my licence, the course is £40 which i was also refused help with today ,and now im struggling to pay out any more as im in a lot of debt getting to this stage, i am desperate to get back to work after 11 years and pay my own way for me and my daughter, i dont want to live on benefits like lots of other people, and dont intend going back to unemployment either, im not looking for endless amounts of money i just needed a little help back to work the goverment say they will help people back to work but i feel as though there not interested , i would appreciate any advice ,am i entitled to any help in my situation, thanks

busy_mom_2

Go back and see the lone parent adviser, as long as you provided the receipts for the original £100 the adviser discrtion fund can be up to £300 before the manager has to get involved so no reason why you can't access more funding for the college course
lone parents are usually entitled to additional things so ask again or ask to see another adviser, as the title suggest its 'adviser discretion'

She can also do a tax credit calculation for you and explain any other incentivies available

shugboy

is there any place higher i can contact to complain and to find out as my adviser is not interested

shugboy

anybody

busy_mom_2

As to speak to the adviser service manager if you are not getting the help of your lone parent adviser.
As i said the adviser discretion fund has no hard or fast rules, its purpose is to remove a barrier into employment and usually paid when people sign off, try again.

MCGONIS

that seems strange - but at the end of the day - the Advisor Discretion Fund is at the discretion of the advisor....... they will use the fund on an individual who works with the advisor over a period of time. Not just walk in off the street once in a blue moon looking for financial help. I am not saying this is what you do, but just quoting my experience. Maybe write a letter to Jobcentre Plus and ask for a written explanation. That way you will know where they are coming from. Good luck!