Courses whilst on IS

PasturesNew

saving_pennies wrote: »

There are also many other courses which if you are on qualifying benefits you can study free or at an extremely reduced cost. The courses at my local college have been restricted in the last year with all the cuts, but there are still a range of courses from level 1 to level 5 including computing, law, finances/book keeping, enginnering, health and safety, art/jewellery making etc. as well as a range of A-levels free to those who do not have any A-levels.

It must be regional then ... it'd be rare to find those courses existing in my whole county, never mind free!

I am purely guessing as I've never heard of levels before... but guessing level 5 is degree level (?) ... in which case they're definitely not available in my county, even the Uni you have to leave in the 3rd year and go elsewhere to complete a degree. A levels are seriously lacking/absent too.

saving_pennies

PasturesNew wrote: »

It must be regional then ... it'd be rare to find those courses existing in my whole county, never mind free!

I am purely guessing as I've never heard of levels before... but guessing level 5 is degree level (?) ... in which case they're definitely not available in my county, even the Uni you have to leave in the 3rd year and go elsewhere to complete a degree. A levels are seriously lacking/absent too.

Blimey - you don't even get to complete a degree at uni. It certainly sounds like courses that can be studied free (and courses in general) is regional!! Seems it depends on postcode lottery!

The levels confuse me and I'm not sure how universal they are. From my local college: Full level 2 is 5 GSCE's, Full level 3 is equal to 2+ A-levels. I think Level 5 is equal to first year of uni as I did a professional level 5 course and if I wanted to turn it into a degree I had to top it up at uni.

Oldernotwiser

saving_pennies wrote: »

Blimey - you don't even get to complete a degree at uni. It certainly sounds like courses that can be studied free (and courses in general) is regional!! Seems it depends on postcode lottery!

The levels confuse me and I'm not sure how universal they are. From my local college: Full level 2 is 5 GSCE's, Full level 3 is equal to 2+ A-levels. I think Level 5 is equal to first year of uni as I did a professional level 5 course and if I wanted to turn it into a degree I had to top it up at uni.

There's been an enormous change in the funding of courses for people on means tested benefits this year. You might well find that what's been available in your area is no longer so.

LL30

Looks like it really varies from place to place then. Well, slight u turn in thought processes! I have discovered that there are bursaries available to do postgrad Social Work quals.....yay! Just trawling through the paperwork to see if it's do able (obviously for next year - let's hope they don't decide to scrap it before then!)

From the research I've done, it looks like I should be able to claim IS and HB whilst on the course, but I'm unsure as to whether they will take into account the bursary? It's a grant which will total £8340 plus the £3732 tuition fees - would a bursary have an impact on the level of help I would get? Would I also be able to claim CTC? There is also an additional element for childcare which I haven't quite bottomed yet. Just trying to do the sums to see if I could possibly manage it! Doing a post grad would solve my career issues - I've hit a ceiling as although I have loads of experience, I don't have the qual to push me up the banding to break the £25K barrier, so I can either sit there for the rest of my life, or buckle down for 2 years and do the post grad. Any ideas on any of this? You lot seem to be a plethora of knowledge!

Only issue then is still what to do with this year...I'm considering looking at applying to local care homes, but I'm unsure as to how I approach the need for regular shifts so I don't have childcare problems. It's not exactly 'career move of the year' but anything to keep us a float. Does anyone know how you do this - it's not exactly the most endearing thing to announce at an interview is it?

clearingout

Have you put your figures through https://www.entitledto.co.uk? it's worth a good look there. I am not sure you are ever better off on benefits, but I have found it quite close (single parent, 3 small children, all need childcare at least before/after school) and the lower the wage, the closer it is, obviously! You should be entitled to Income Support with a child of one. You can look for work whilst on Income Support - they won't force you on to JSA.

If you are looking at a job with varied shift patterns, you need to be honest at interview about your situation - if you can't get weekend childcare or childcare after 6pm, say so. It is no good having a job you can't actually do, is it? In a previous life, I did a lot of interviewing and appointing and honestly, generally appointed the people who came across as if they would work hard and be reliable even if I had to shift things around and even if it meant knowing they might only be around for a year or so rather than the rest of their lives! It is expensive to recruit but getting lumbered with a member of staff who is always late, can't be bothered and always does the bare minimum is far worse than having to have another round of recruitment on a regular basis! Sell your good points, play down the difficulties but be honest about your situation. It will, perhaps, lose you a job here and there. But it won't lose you every job. Good luck!

saving_pennies

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

There's been an enormous change in the funding of courses for people on means tested benefits this year. You might well find that what's been available in your area is no longer so.

Yeah I know, the number of courses available has reduced (e.g. the diploma I did no longer runs at the college) and they no longer have a long list of qualifying benefits (it has reduced to JSA and ESA work related) but the examples I gave above came from their new part time booklet.


Re: social work qualifications - my friend is doing one of these with the bursary and is loving it. No idea of the impact of a bursary on benefits though - sorry - I'm sure someone who knows will be along soon.

Good luck looking for care home work. Put the situation re: hours across in a constructive positive way, e.g. emphasise what you can offer (time-wise and commitment) and explain the reason you need regular shifts is to manage childcare issues. Rather than just saying you can't do 'x' or 'y'. You could always ask to talk to the manager before applying. If you tell them in interview, I would personally tell them towards the end of the interview so they get to hear all the great things you can offer them.

skater_kat

my local university has a 50% reduction in fees if you are on IS/JSA/ESA

Oldernotwiser

skater_kat wrote: »

my local university has a 50% reduction in fees if you are on IS/JSA/ESA

For degree level courses?