JSA and College

GotToChange

Believe it or not, at a recent meeting that I had with a JCP Advisor, I was told that College courses can be up to 21 (!) hours per week.

However, then complications arise with Housing Benefit as their rules are different again, i.e. full-time (i.e. they define as over 16 hours) Students (both FE and HE) cannot receive Housing Benefit UNLESS they are receiving JSA (not sure if it is either CB/IB or both).

Then the Colleges themselves have different definitions of full and part-time and the relevant course fee concessions, i.e. Full-time requires £50 to be paid at enrolment and that's all; Part-time, nothing. Both enable the student to apply for extra help throughthe Access fund (which would probably be deducted from any- means tested benefit.....unless for course materials or travel assistance).
(Subject to eligibility in so many different ways....)


Nightmare!

Oldernotwiser

CAG83 wrote: »

Can anyone help?

I was made redundant in July, I didnt claim JSA because the website states that if you have savings over 16k you probably wouldnt qualify. Since I am one of those people who saved every month I do have savings over 16k so didnt make a claim. After a month of spending money for train fares and petrol going for Job interviews I thought I would call up anyway and see what they said.

That's only for means tested JSA; savings don't come into it for contributions based JSA.

You can't claim ignorance as a reason for backdating.

worldatlantis2009

hi i know someone who is thinking of doing a home learning course studying in own time and is claiming jsa benefits , this person wants to know if can do a home study course and doesnt affect jsa benefits.
any suggestions.

Oldernotwiser

worldatlantis2009 wrote: »

hi i know someone who is thinking of doing a home learning course studying in own time and is claiming jsa benefits , this person wants to know if can do a home study course and doesnt affect jsa benefits.
any suggestions.

Yes he can but he needs to be carefu about home learning. With the exception of organisations like the OU, many courses aren't worth spending money and time on.

PasturesNew

If you are home learning, why would you even mention it to anybody? You study those courses when you can. Many people do them alongside their full-time jobs and running a house. It'd only be relevant if you turned down work or an interview because you fancied sitting on your 4rse reading the books that day instead.

GEEGEE8

Do Open University, it is usually free aswell, depending on your income.
I was made redundant 6 weeks ago and I was just finishing my college course 1 day a week, I had been working 5 days ontop of that. I was dragged over hot coals to say that I would give up the course if a suitable job came up. I argued my point that I was available 6 other days a week but they didn't want to know.