Going from JSA to full time student

Krasnoludek

Hi there

Apologies if this is the wrong forum but it didnt seem applicable to the student one.

I was made redundant end of March and have been claiming Cont based JSA since beginning of April, it runs out beginning of October and I wont get IB JSA as my husband works full time.
Have been looking for a job in the same sector as the one I have left but its pretty poor (as is everywhere) and I am thinking of doing a years access course in Biology and possibly doing a degree a year afterwards that would allow me to retrain and get a job in healthcare.

I am married with 2 small kids and have been working 20 hrs a week up until end of March. We arent entitled to any housing benefit/ c tax benefit and we have mortgage payment protection which covers 50% of our mortgage for up to 12 months as long as I am signing on with the DWP.

I have a screening with the uni next week and if I am successful in gaining a place on the access course it will start mid September, I find out if I have a place before the end of June.

I am leaning more toward doing this course now and away from finding a job as a job like the one I have just left are pretty few and far between, especially with childcare arrangements, however I will continue to look for one and keep my options open with the Uni for now.

If I accept the offer of the course and I find out at the end of June can I still claim JSA up until I start in Sept as in theory I could still work up until then albeit a temp job ? Or do I have to tell them before and they stop my claim on the basis that I will be starting education ? Altho I guess if I started a job in September I would only tell them when I was immediately due to start. Its all very confusing.

The course will be 15 hours a week term time only. I have been told I can still sign on with the jobcentre and they will pay my stamp even if I do a 15 hour a week course and thus my mortgage protection will still apply,

Just looking for some advice really

Thanks for reading

K x

blondiejohnson

Hi,

In my experience you should still be able to claim your JSA until you start your course.

I am currently claiming jobseekers allowance as I was made redundant in April. I am starting a teacher training course in September and I have informed the job centre of this and they were fine about it and advised me that I should therefore be looking for temporary work only. I am able to claim JSA until I start my course unless a miracle happens and I actually find a temporary job (easier said than done!!)

Hope this helps.

sidawson

you should still be able to claim up until the start of your course, claiming while your on the course will depend if you are going to be getting any funding such as student loans, if not then you should still be able to claim as under 16 hours.

Oldernotwiser

sidawson wrote: »

you should still be able to claim up until the start of your course, claiming while your on the course will depend if you are going to be getting any funding such as student loans, if not then you should still be able to claim as under 16 hours.

OP has said she's unable to claim JSA IB because of her husband's income. You don't get Student Loans for Access courses.

sidawson

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

OP has said she's unable to claim JSA IB because of her husband's income. You don't get Student Loans for Access courses.

i know but her conts claim will still last until the october which is once she is doing her course.