Income support question

montrano

Anyone know the bizarre rules for income support.
Basically I'm currently doing a degree with the open university and I'm on jobseekers at the moment.
I noticed recently that the income support page states that it is available to part time higher education students. Anyone know what the requirements are, hours wise and the like. Im registering for next years modules, so can do as many or little as required.
I could do without attending the work programme, Ive got things booked up for the first couple of weeks of it, but theyve already admitted theres not a great deal they can do for me and it will essentially be a form filling exercise.
Im the only person there with all my teeth and not wearing a track suit, makes me feel a tad uncomfortable

nannytone_2

you also need to be a lone parent or a carer.

what it actually says is if you are already in receipt of income support, you can study part time without benefit being affected.
not that you can study part time in order to be entitled to it.

montrano

Its this section that makes me wonder
"Part-time students

Part-time students in higher education can also apply for income-related benefits if they’re on a low income and meet the relevant conditions. They don’t have to fall within one of the particular groups listed in the Income Support or Housing Benefit regulations."

its under a seperate listing to the full time students, and implys theres seperate rules, which i cant seem to find. I may have to phone them, but i hate the fact that the answer differs depending on who you speak to down there.

nannytone_2

why would you think that you would be entitled to a benefit meant for people that are unable to work...or so limited in their ability to work that they get a top/

EVEN DISABLED PEOPLE CAN'T GET IT FOR NEW CLAIMS. THEY HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH THE esa HOOPS. YET FOR SOME REASON YOUVE INTERPRETED THE RULES IN A WAY TO MAKE YOU THINK THAT A FIT ABLE PERSON WHO STUDIES PART TIME WILL BE ENTITLED?

sunnyone

montrano wrote: »

Anyone know the bizarre rules for income support.
Basically I'm currently doing a degree with the open university and I'm on jobseekers at the moment.
I noticed recently that the income support page states that it is available to part time higher education students. Anyone know what the requirements are, hours wise and the like. Im registering for next years modules, so can do as many or little as required.
I could do without attending the work programme, Ive got things booked up for the first couple of weeks of it, but theyve already admitted theres not a great deal they can do for me and it will essentially be a form filling exercise.
Im the only person there with all my teeth and not wearing a track suit, makes me feel a tad uncomfortable

These things you have booked up for during the first few weeks could you not have done them in the 4 years or so you have been unemployed for?

You are not entitled to IS and the work program is set up for people like you who cant find your own way into employment, insulting other members of society who are as unable to fins work as yourself sont help you but make you look very, very sad.

montrano

The way I understand the logic is that a full time student gets grants and loans, whereas a part time student cant. I remember there being a fairly strict amount of study hours however.

No matter, I'll phone tomorrow to check.

I meant on the work programme itself, theyve got a couple of induction courses that might be helpful, but other than that, theres very little they can do, I have an education and work experience, since i was 13, up to middle management level. Im registered everywhere, apply for hundreds of jobs a week and even set up a website begging people to hire me. As a white, late twenties, straight, able-bodied person, theres not much more anyone can do, apart from going self employed, and thats an option i'm working on

Darlyd

Sorry wrong thread to reply too ! DOH

montrano

Haha, not really my thing. I've used up all my training cash on open university as far as Im aware, Im doing a Life sciences degree, but the advantage of open uni is with careful planning you can gain other qualifications on the way. Ive just got a certificate in natural sciences, which has already increased the responses I'm getting from job applications, so I'm hopeful.
As for the self employed route, I build string instruments, so I'm working on a way of making sustainable cash from doing it, as well as 3D printing. Ive recently finished building a 3D printer, I just need to calibrate it and that can start printing me some money.

This is half the reason for wanting to avoid the work programme, I dont like the idea of going into their office 3 or so times a week for hours at a time, for what they've already deemed form filling, I could be spending the time more constructively

Darlyd

OMG so sorry I replied to the wrong thread.. DOH..

Good luck

Oldernotwiser

montrano wrote: »

The way I understand the logic is that a full time student gets grants and loans, whereas a part time student cant. I remember there being a fairly strict amount of study hours however.

A part time student is expected to support themselves by employment or benefits which you are doing by claiming JSA.

From your description of your current activities it sounds very much as if you aren't available for work and your JSA claim is questionable.

Dory78

I believe the Open University is excluded from this anyway - I'm pretty sure I inquired about this and was told you have to be actually attending a uni in order to be classed as a part time student.