Part-time student/Part-time work/Benefits questions

leemoss

Hi apologies if this is in the wrong part of the forum.
My girlfriend is unemployed, she was previously employed full time but only a 6 month contract.
She has a 4 year old son, but she does not receive any benefits for him as the father has him for the larger majority of the week (marginally anyway). She is currently recieving JSA and housing benefit, I do not live with her and have no intention of moving into hers in the near future.
She is volunteering 2 days a week at the minute but wishes to go to university, however she doesn't have the qualifications/experience to do the degree she wants to. So she has just enrolled on an access course at the local college, as its under 16hours a week, I believe shes still entitled to JSA/housing benefit.
If she was to find part time employment whilst studying, say 2 nights a week but under 16 hours would she still be entitled to housing benefit? She would also be volunteering through the week too.
Shes not particularly concerned about JSA, I pay for most of her stuff anyway, however I would struggle to pay her rent/council tax as well as my own living costs.
It would only be for a year as she then could cover the rent costs with her student loan.

Its a bit of a ridiculous situation when she was working full time she was barely £100 a month better off than when shes unemployed, she would prefer to work though.

Thanks for any advice.

Sam____2

If you pay for most of her stuff, for benefit purposes weather you live with her or stay a few nights, you could be classed as her partner and she may not be entitled to any benefits...

leemoss

I don't stay at hers at all. She occasionally spends a night at my house (I live with my parents still). I've got a full time job but at the minute im also very busy with various courses/qualifications outside of work, paid for at my own expense which run into the £1000's, hence living at home still.

Oldernotwiser

If the Access course if for one year it's likely to be considered full time which would affect her ability to claim JSA. As she has a child under 7 she could claim Income Support but she needs to check that this would allow her to do the course without paying fees.

Sam____2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If the Access course if for one year it's likely to be considered full time which would affect her ability to claim JSA. As she has a child under 7 she could claim Income Support but she needs to check that this would allow her to do the course without paying fees.

I think the Father is the PWC in this situation.

leemoss

As far as I know the access course is considered part time, i'll have to double check that with her though. I believe that's what the job centre told her though.

leemoss

Sam___ wrote: »

I think the Father is the PWC in this situation.

Not 100% sure what PWC means, but he receives the benefits etc for the child (or tax credits whatever hes entitled to as he works). My girlfriend receives nothing regarding the child even though she has him 3 nights a week.

Sam____2

leemoss wrote: »

Not 100% sure what PWC means, but he receives the benefits etc for the child (or tax credits whatever hes entitled to as he works). My girlfriend receives nothing regarding the child even though she has him 3 nights a week.

Sorry, PWC means person/parent with care, he'll get the child benefit and any tax credits for the child, which means income support isn't an option for your girlfriend

Sam____2

I think what has to be established first is wether or not the course is classed as full time

leemoss

The course is 15hours per week if that helps?

Sam____2

I think 15 hours is classed as full time, I'm trying to look and check, I'm sure someone will be along soon to say wether it is or not