jsa forcing me to do training course

ss69

Hi! I'm a newcomer to this forum. I would be grateul if anyone could give advice about my situation. I have been recieving job seekers allowance and the problem is that my 10 week new deal has come to an end, and i am now being sent on a 13 week full time (9-5) course for which i have been given hardly any information. All i have been told is that i will recieve an extra £15 on top of my normal benefit. What about travel expenses? Do they expect me to pay for travel for a course that i haven't even asked to do.

As i look after my elderly mother, going on this course would mean that I will not be able to accompany her on all her hospital and physio appts. She suffers very badly from arthiritis and walks with the aid of a walking stick so as you can understand, she needs my help when travelling by bus. Any advice on my situation will be greatly appreciated!

DVardysShadow

Suppose you don't do this course, because you are offered a job 9-5 for 5 days a week? Is the issue with your mother going to stop you taking it? If you are going to take JSA, you need to be available for fulltime work.

LittleVoice

ss69 wrote: »

Hi! I'm a newcomer to this forum. I would be grateul if anyone could give advice about my situation. I have been recieving job seekers allowance and the problem is that my 10 week new deal has come to an end, and i am now being sent on a 13 week full time (9-5) course for which i have been given hardly any information. All i have been told is that i will recieve an extra £15 on top of my normal benefit. What about travel expenses? Do they expect me to pay for travel for a course that i haven't even asked to do.

As i look after my elderly mother, going on this course would mean that I will not be able to accompany her on all her hospital and physio appts. She suffers very badly from arthiritis and walks with the aid of a walking stick so as you can understand, she needs my help when travelling by bus. Any advice on my situation will be greatly appreciated!

The £15 is a training allowance. The training provider can reimburse travel costs - you will have to provide evidence. (Not sure now whether it is the difference between £15 and the actual cost.)

As a Jobseeker you are expected to be looking for full-time work (something like 9-5 though obviously the actual hours people work varies). You have to be available for this work. How would you get on if you were working and your mother wanted assistance to get to hospital? I see many many people who use a walking stick who somehow manage to use public transport on their own.

Oldernotwiser

If you care for your mother for at least 35 hours a week and she claims the appropriate level of DLA or AA, you could claim Carers Allowance. Otherwise, if you're claiming JSA you should be available for full time work and training.

SevenOfNine

It isn't compulsory, you can tell the JC you don't want to go.................then sign off JSA!

DCFC79

If you were offered a job this week what would you do about your mum as you would hnave to arrange some kind of care or help for her

viktory

ss69 wrote: »

As i look after my elderly mother, going on this course would mean that I will not be able to accompany her on all her hospital and physio appts. She suffers very badly from arthiritis and walks with the aid of a walking stick so as you can understand, she needs my help when travelling by bus. Any advice on my situation will be greatly appreciated!

So how will you look after your elderly mother when you get a job?

It is perfectly reasonable for you to be expected to attend a JSA training course when claiming Job Seekers Allowance.

EDIT to add: :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: We are all asking the same question! Wonder if the OP will bother to come back and answer it?

Jowo_2

ss69 wrote: »

.... She suffers very badly from arthiritis and walks with the aid of a walking stick so as you can understand, she needs my help when travelling by bus.

Look into whether she has care or mobility needs that mean she qualifies for Disability Living Allowance. She can get this even if she's in employment, it's not means tested. It is designed precisely to help those with care/mobility needs with the extra expenses that comes with their disability, such as helping them pay for taxi fares instead of public transport.

Look into whether Dial A Ride operates in your area (or a similar scheme), it's designed precisely for disabled and older people who cannot use public transport.

SarEl

I have to agree. If you were offered a full time job you cannot simply take off whenever you want to care for your mother. And if that is the only condition upon which you are available for work - then you are not avaialble for work! Nobody is forcing you to do anything which you are not signing on for. So you need to be either claining other enitlements which do not declare you as available for work, or you need to be available for work

dawyldthing

can you arrange for late/ very early appointments as doctors and many health centres are starting to work later to accomodate us working so you may get appointments after 5pm, or can they do the same care at the local doctors?

looby75

If you have caring responsibilities you can limit the hours you are available for work, as already said if you are giving a lot of care and support you mum then she should apply for DLA and you can then be her carer.

Unfortunately this takes time and I doubt it will be in place before the course starts, so it might be best if you look into other option for your mum to get to her appointments ect. If they are at the hospital her GP surgery can arrange transport there and back for her.