What happens when.......

Tehya

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out a little information about an good opportunity that my neice has been given.

After leaving university, but before she graduated, she is finding it hard to get paid work and has registered with several agencies.

Once of these agencies have offered her a 12 week place on an internship placement at their own offices (it's not a graduate type with a salary). The aim is to give her some real work experience.

I'm a little confused as to whether this is a government backed sheme (she'll receive an allowance of £67 a week which made up of £30 for travel and £37 for food), the training is with Reeds Employment Agency?

She'll still be looking for work during the training but just in case she doesn't find anything what happens to her current JSA claim, does she have to sign off and then back on again or is the money seen as expenses so her claim carries on? She's taking the opportunity whatever but as she's still got to pay for her keep (she lives with her dad who is severely disabled) we'd like to know where she stands?

Thank you for reading and any advice you can give.

PS: She's 21 and has never had any paid work as she has cared for her father since she was 12 years.

In_the_red

I got offered an interview for this however I was on holiday when it took place I asked at the job centre and it didn't effect my benefits as it was expenses. The money was for meals and travel and I was getting no financial gain so it was okay. I really wanted to do that, I hope it works out well for her.

Hope this helps.

thegirlintheattic

Doesn't affect benefits. Many companies, even big ones like Reeds, run it to get free labour off people. Depends on her situation and the sector she is going into whether it will help.

saintjammyswine

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Doesn't affect benefits. Many companies, even big ones like Reeds, run it to get free labour off people. Depends on her situation and the sector she is going into whether it will help.

Depends on whether it is a referral from JCP for the experience though.

Many companies also offer internships that are unpaid that are nothing to do with The Work Programme.

thegirlintheattic

saintjammyswine wrote: »

Depends on whether it is a referral from JCP for the experience though.

Many companies also offer internships that are unpaid that are nothing to do with The Work Programme.

I didn't say it was to do with The Work Programme, unless it is an internship in the sector his niece wants to go into it is unlikely to provide a major benefit and is a way of the company getting something for nothing. His niece needs to work out why she isn't getting work - if it is a lack of any job experience then go for it, if it is a lack of specialised experience - will this provide it? Is it something else?

You can claim JSA as long as you are working less than 16 hours a week, you can also claim if you are doing voluntary work as long as you are not legally obliged to and you are still 'actively looking for work', so if she would drop the internship for a job or interview. She will need to check with the job centre if this is classed as volunteering (not sure if the internship counts) and give them receipts for any expenses she gets paid.

Disenchanted

It sounds like a good way of getting experience, she should go for it.

Tehya

Thanks for the advice folks, I'll pass it on. I don't think the JC+ sent her to the agency (I'll have to ask her) but whatever happens with her claim she'll take the training anyway. She desparately needs some experience and really does want to work. She's only been on JSA for a few weeks too.

Anyway thanks again.

saintjammyswine

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I didn't say it was to do with The Work Programme, unless it is an internship in the sector his niece wants to go into it is unlikely to provide a major benefit and is a way of the company getting something for nothing. His niece needs to work out why she isn't getting work - if it is a lack of any job experience then go for it, if it is a lack of specialised experience - will this provide it? Is it something else?

You can claim JSA as long as you are working less than 16 hours a week, you can also claim if you are doing voluntary work as long as you are not legally obliged to and you are still 'actively looking for work', so if she would drop the internship for a job or interview. She will need to check with the job centre if this is classed as volunteering (not sure if the internship counts) and give them receipts for any expenses she gets paid.

OK, I assumed it was a full time internship.