Courses on JSA - has anyone done any

Musicmania1968

My nephew said that he had to do a course consisting of 30hr week for 5 days, then my mates mate said they had to do a course and he was just sitting all day stairing out the window but was forced to attend by job centre, 9 to 4pm x 5 days wk

Musicmania1968

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

I did a ECDL (computer driving licence) through the Jobcentre. Had to commit to attending for 17.5 hours weekly, and got £10 week training premium. After the course finished the place was very keen to tie me into an unpaid work placement as that is how they get their money from the gov't.

Did you have to do the work placement in the end?

Musicmania1968

Kirri wrote: »

I found all the courses they offered were really basic level and I refused due to the stupidity of the fact to get on one I would have had to do a basic numeracy and literacy course first, when I already had O and A levels... I rang Learn Direct anyway as the JC made me, who advised my qualifications would exclude me taking one anyway! The Job Centre should know this..

But after that they gave me funding to do a course (from the Advisor Discretionary Fund so up to £300) that I chose from a distance learning place, so worth asking for something you really want and not something that just ticks the boxes for them...

Distance learning, is that one of those home courses you do?

Kirri

Musicmania1968 wrote: »

Distance learning, is that one of those home courses you do?

Yes it is but you can apply for funds for a college course as well if you prefer - the course is something I had an interest in to change career so I was surprised they let me do it and it was available at a night school college but not until September so I found the course online at a home study college and suggested that (as they said I had to do a course of some kind) and they agreed on the spot and the money was in my account days later. Also as it's home study it cannot interfere with job searching, interviews or even work as you study in your own time around everything else.

It is funded from the Advisor Discretionary Fund which is up to £300 and anything that can help you find a job so either a course or clothes for interview etc. Well worth asking if there is something you are wanting to do.

Musicmania1968

Kirri wrote: »

Yes it is but you can apply for funds for a college course as well if you prefer - the course is something I had an interest in to change career so I was surprised they let me do it and it was available at a night school college but not until September so I found the course online at a home study college and suggested that (as they said I had to do a course of some kind) and they agreed on the spot and the money was in my account days later. Also as it's home study it cannot interfere with job searching, interviews or even work as you study in your own time around everything else.

It is funded from the Advisor Discretionary Fund which is up to £300 and anything that can help you find a job so either a course or clothes for interview etc. Well worth asking if there is something you are wanting to do.

Do you have to prove to job centre that you are doing this home course? Cause otherwise everyone could just say ok and pretend to do this and not do it if they are at home just to get the money? Do you have to produced course materials of what you have done each week to them?

Musicmania1968

Musicmania1968 wrote: »

Do you have to prove to job centre that you are doing this home course? Cause otherwise everyone could just say ok and pretend to do this and not do it if they are at home just to get the money? Do you have to produced course materials of what you have done each week to them?

For me I guess an ideal home course would be something like computer web design or programming or something like that really? But these type of courses are very expensive and dont even know if the job centre would go for anything like that really.

Kirri

They set a date for you to go back to the JC to show them the proof from the college that the money was spent on the specified course. They just want guarantees re the payment being used as stated, not of the actual course work (but then it would be a waste of an opportunity to not do the work!).

Kirri

Musicmania1968 wrote: »

For me I guess an ideal home course would be something like computer web design or programming or something like that really? But these type of courses are very expensive and dont even know if the job centre would go for anything like that really.

If your local adult education offers courses you can get them at reduced cost applying direct or apply from the AD fund for full funding from either a college or home study. If it is anything over £300 then you are expected to pay the extra yourself though.

Owain_Moneysaver

Musicmania1968 wrote: »

Did you have to do the work placement in the end?

No. I came off JSA and went onto Incap.