Dropping out of Uni & JSA

anewloginapparently

Hi,

I was studying nursing away from home and recieving a standard NHS bursary for this (around £540 pm), however I've just not been able to support myself and cover my debts as have found it impossible to get a part-time job that fits around my hours at Uni... So have finished my first year now and informed the University and the NHS bursary unit that I have left and so am not due any more bursary payments.

I've missed the boat for transferring onto my local universities course for this year so am facing a year out of work and without my bursary payments.

Am applying for suitable vacencies for tying me over for that year however I am wondering if in the meantime if I can claim JSA (income based as I've used up my contributions in the past)?

Or does dropping out of University result in the same penalties as leaving a job voluntarily (ie 13 weeks barring from JSA)?

Am hoping to claim right away as even if I do get a job soon in care the length of time it takes to get a CRB means I won't be earning for a good few months yet, and can't survive without JSA in the meantime.

NASA_2

Dropping out of Uni wont stop you claiming JSA(IB) but you would be well advised to get a letter from uni saying that you are officially off the course. When you get it take a photocopy of it so that if it goes missing you still have the record and can p/copy again and send again.

anewloginapparently

Thanks, I'll try and chase up the uni for a letter but I should be ok making a claim in the meantime right? And if I do and they want to see proof then hopefully least my claim will be backdated til tomorrow.

NASA_2

anewloginapparently wrote: »

Thanks, I'll try and chase up the uni for a letter but I should be ok making a claim in the meantime right? And if I do and they want to see proof then hopefully least my claim will be backdated til tomorrow.

They normally only take your claim from the date you contact them so dont delay on doing that.

You should, IMO, be ok to make a claim and should get paid.

student_84

you can backdate a claim so long as you can provide an explanation for it being backdated, 0800 055 6688 the the claim line and first point of contact (if you're using a mobile on contract think of using http://www.0800buster.co.uk/ to make the call come out of your minutes)

NASA_2

student_84 wrote: »

you can backdate a claim so long as you can provide an explanation for it being backdated, 0800 055 6688 the the claim line and first point of contact (if you're using a mobile on contract think of using http://www.0800buster.co.uk/ to make the call come out of your minutes)

Its not as simple as that - there has to be a good reason to backdate.

bestpud

It may not be as bad as you think.

CRBs are coming through quite quick at the moment and the fact you already have one will speed it up some more.

There is actually nothing that says employers cannot use your existing CRB but it is good practice for new employers to wait for one.

My employer has (cautiously) started people based on a POVA check and references if they already have a CRB, although they get an application off straight away obviously. They can certainly get on with training and shadow shifts etc so you are ready to go by the time it arrives.

student_84

NASA wrote: »

Its not as simple as that - there has to be a good reason to backdate.

Hence why I said provide an explanation of why it should be backdated

bestpud wrote:

There is actually nothing that says employers cannot use your existing CRB but it is good practice for new employers to wait for one.

It's possible for employers to contact the place where the original CRB was done for and ask them if they are willing to provide the details that arnt on your copy of the certificate to allow portability, but they still may ask to do another. In my experience its a great money spinner for the government as I have four from the last 12mths.

bestpud

student_84 wrote: »

Hence why I said provide an explanation of why it should be backdated



It's possible for employers to contact the place where the original CRB was done for and ask them if they are willing to provide the details that arnt on your copy of the certificate to allow portability, but they still may ask to do another. In my experience its a great money spinner for the government as I have four from the last 12mths.

I think all good employers will do one anyway, but I meant there is nothing to stop them starting an employee based on an existing CRB, while waiting for the new one to arrive, iyswim.

I'd be worried about an employer who didn't want a new check done as well. :eek:

anewloginapparently

I claimed on Friday and went in at 9am today (who said they weren't efficient!) for my initial interview. Was told that I would need to provide a letter to prove I wasn't in reciept of student finance anymore so have written to NHS Bursaries and my University to ask for this, in the meantime I have a signing time. Knowing how slow the cogs of uni admin work I'm guessing it's going to be a few weeks before I recieve this letter. If I just sign on in the meantime what will happen? Will I not get the money but instead it will accrue? Or will I not be eligible for any money until I provide the letter?

Cheers again!

starnight_2

Hopefully it shouldn't take you too long, try phoning them to see if they know when you would get it. I got a letter off uni within 2 weeks as they knew I couldn't get benefits without it, though when I was talking to my prof he told me he would get it sorted for me.

Sorry don't really know the ins and outs of JSA but hopefully you shouldn't have to wait too long.